'The Lion's Den'- mental health episode script

Episode three- ‘Break the stigma’

Sophie- Hey! Welcome back into the den and into today’s episode focusing on mental health and the importance it deserves to be given. I don’t know about you, but life has been pretty hectic lately, so actually sitting down and talking on here feels like a holiday! But this is a necessity, and one thing society continues to shy away from. For me, balancing sixth form, work and learning to drive sometimes feels like a chaotic circus act! We definitely don’t ask this enough, but guys, how are you feeling and how's life been recently?

Lana -

• - The best I’ve ever been mood-wise even though I’m mega stressed (maybe a testament to how hard the past few years have been)
• - Getting very anxious about grades and all that jazz but aren't we all

Earl -

• Overwhelmed with schoolwork but I suppose lots of other people are as well
• Summer has enabled me to be outside more which always lifts my mood
• Looking forward to the summer holidays, it’s encouraging to know we’re on the home straight

Sophie- people underestimate the power of checking in on those around you and just asking ‘how are you?’ or ‘do you want me to help with anything?’. We live in a society where we are driven by stigmas of being seen as ‘weak’ for speaking out and feeling obliged to take on absolutely everything somebody asks you for onto our shoulders, even if we already have a to-do list which is an arm's length long! I’m not going to lie; I have been guilty and still am sometimes guilty of this. The thought of saying no to somebody used to scare me so much- what would the other person think? Have I let them down? When, nobody cares if you say no to them! We need to realise when we need time for ourselves, self-care isn't selfish, it’s a priority. There is a fear of going against the grain and this has led to us developing a trope of having a ‘stiff upper lip’ and just saying ‘we’re fine’, when we’re not. So, guys, what do you think is the most damaging stereotype around mental health?

Earl-

• - The assumption that mental health problems are going to be obvious – they may not be, as the person may make an effort to not appear down so as not to feel like they are burdening others.
• - There is a stereotype that if you have mental health problems, you never leave the house, you appear down all the time
• - I’ve come to realise that currently I try not to let my being constantly overwhelmed show very much, especially in places like school. But this sometimes means that I don’t get the help I need, which is something I’m working on.

Lana-

• - Linking to self-care being selfish – being told you're vain/self-centered for looking after yourself (spending time looking after your body doesn’t mean you’re self-obsessed!)
• - This is really damaging as you could impact the confidence of someone who may be confident or working on their confidence
• - When I was younger (9/10), I used to be very confident. I loved making myself look ‘pretty’ by doing my hair nicely (to the best of my shoddy ability). Once someone told me I was ‘vain’ because I liked to spend time styling my hair. Though this was a little comment, it really stuck with me. I began to doubt myself “am I vain? Am I self-centered" and it is one of the factors which contributed to my confidence falling

Sophie- The issue of these stereotypes is that they are so engrained into our society that it may seem impossible to break away and admit you need help. Speaking out loud needs to be viewed as a strength and we need to end the dangerous silence. 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in a year and we still think they are uncommon! Anyone can put a strong face on and pretend it’s all ok, due to the fear of judgement from others and being alienated consequently. One of the things that frightens me the most with mental health is the lack of attention men are given, due the archaic and outdated stereotype that men should be ‘the leader’ and need to remain ‘strong’ for the family and those around them. What if they're suffering themselves? What if they want someone to look after them? The reality is that they are struggling, and we have left it too late in some circumstances. The suicide rate for men is three times the rate for women and the leading cause of death for men under the age of 50. This needs to be stopped once and for all and we need to realise the importance of being there for those around us. So, what do you believe is the hardest myth surrounding mental health that needs to be solved?

Lana-

• - Mental health problems are methods of ‘attention seeking’
• - Makes us invalidate and doubt our own problems
• - Stops people (especially men!!) from seeking help (leads to more stigma)
• - Mental health problems are our fault for being ‘weak’
• - Makes the person suffering blame themselves, makes the problem worse

Earl-

• - Adding onto Lana’s point, another thing that can make us invalidate and doubt our own positions when it comes to mental health problems is when people say “other people have it worse”. Suffering is relative. Other people suffering doesn’t stop you from suffering. No problems are going to be solved thinking this way. It also serves as a form of gaslighting to make you question whether your experiences are valid. They are.

Sophie- And being a student sometimes makes you feel like the world is against you, as if you're stuck on a broken fairground ride, which may seem idyllic, but makes you feel as if you’re just going round in circles. Balancing relationships, exams, deadlines and finances has led to a mountain of stress piling up for all students and this is something I can relate to so much! Some days I just come home and wrap myself in my dressing gown and have a good cry and we need to realise that crying is normal. Too many people see this as a failure, when you are recognising what your body wants and letting it express what it wants to say or do. Our society recognises physical injury more and fails to see how everyone has their own solutions to mental health and it can't be solved by a ‘one size fits all’ attitude. Young people face constant expectations and images to conform to every day and still expect us to cope with it all on our own. In fact, 3/4 of illnesses begin before the age of 24. What do you guys believe is the greatest cause of stress for us as young people?

Lana-

I don’t think it’s one thing in particular, more the sheer number of things we’re all balancing at once

School: school is harder than it ever has been. Yes, compared to previous years, we have more resources to learn from but that also comes with the expectation to retain more and perform better

Awareness: though 24hr news cycles have been prominent since the 1990s, having worldwide news integrated into social media and available at all hours makes us hyperaware of all of the bad things in the world.

• - It’s good to be well-informed, but there’s a fine line between educated and consumed
• - It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the news, viewing graphic descriptions/videos/images/recounting of horrific events daily isn't healthy
• - The news can invoke feelings of frustration and anger which carry over into our general mood and will affect the people around us

Earl-

• - The rising expectations of young people in multiple areas, which all are various forms of pressure:
• - There is a constant stereotype of being ‘lazy’, combined with increasing academic pressure, like Lana says
• - Pressure to fit in – even though society is becoming more accepting, there is still often intolerance of people who stand out
• - The demands of social media presence – the addictiveness, the pressure to have a happy-looking digital life, skewed perceptions of body image

Sophie- Now it’s time to shed some light into this and boost all our endorphins. For me, I have always had three options when I have a down day (which are normal by the way-we need them to appreciate the happiness more in our life!). In terms of movies, it would have to be ‘the Breakfast Club’. Just the thought that I could be living alongside them in the 80s even temporarily as I watch it makes me happy! Music is also so powerful in creating an escape from reality and, for me, this can vary from pretending I'm at a festival with Example blaring in the background, to having a throwback dance party to S Club 7 or The Spice Girls. And finally, for me- hockey. I play for Norwich Dragons, and it has brought me so much confidence, independence and access into the most amazing and welcoming community and going to a training session after a stressful day in sixth form is just what I need. If you had to pick one thing to go to when you feel slightly deflated, what would you say?

Earl-

• - Sometimes really small things perk me up, like a cup of tea. I come home from school, crash and then have a cup of tea. It feels like a hug. I have school during the week, work on Saturday, so on Sunday I just want to sit in the garden with a cup of tea and just do nothing. I need to recuperate!
• - I have to say music as well. I have go-to tracks that I listen to that always lift my mood, I don’t care that I play them over and over again!!

Lana-

• - Listening to a presentation from Justin (!) about happiness hormones has made me really fascinated by the different types of hormones and how we can release more of them
• - Serotonin: getting a tiny bit of exercise, though I am by no means active (I hate any form of strenuous exercise) going out on a walk helps me disconnect from whatever is bothering me and makes me feel calmer
• - Dopamine: achieve something small, having a quick tidy up has the double benefit of giving me a mood-boost and making my space comfortable
• - Oxytocin: hugs!! I love hugs! Ask someone you love (or the person physically closest to you) for a hug
• - Endorphins: having a little dance party, we can recommend this highly!!

Sophie- The time is now to speak out, say no more, keep in touch with those around us and always check in because you never know how much a small ‘are you okay?’ can mean to someone. We need to put ourselves first, stop comparing and taking on so much and instead appreciate the progress we have already made. What do you think is essential for the future of mental health?

Lana-

• - It's good to promote methods of self-care but it’s important to remember that we can't fix everything
• - If you’re struggling with intense anxiety, just going on a walk and having a hug won't fix it, it’s important to remember to seek help and to not dismiss peoples struggles with a “have you tried having a warm bath?”
• - You have to feel it to heal it (-Olivia <3)

Earl-

• - Don’t see seeking help as a weakness. There may be many reasons as to why someone doesn’t look for help, but sometimes one of them is not wanting to be seen as weak. Sometimes you can’t fix stuff all by yourself! It’s ok to ask for support. There is never a wrong reason for needing support.
• - It’s important to notice when you are being unkind to yourself in your thoughts. My mum calls these thoughts something that I won’t say on a podcast but I'll just say it’s something rude enough to describe how harmful these thoughts about yourself are. Over time you can practice recognising and distancing yourself from these thoughts, but often you need someone to help you with this.

Sophie- It's time to ask ‘what if? - what if it works out? What if you prove yourself?’. Stop self-doubt and prove your power for good. Join us in the den next week as we pick up the lab coats and enter the world of science, focusing on climate change and what the future holds for us as the next generation.

And remember, ‘everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind, always’