Conversations around mental health have opened up in recent years, with celebrities including Dame Kelly Holmes, Fearne Cotton and Zayn Malik all speaking about their struggles.
But for some, the stigma remains, and Derby man Leroy Archer is using Mental Health Awareness Week to speak out and try to persuade anyone who is struggling to seek help, which he says can be life changing.
Leroy, 58, is a well-known face around the city and is open about his battles with his mental health which stretch back nearly 40 years. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he has been admitted to inpatient units with Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust many times during his life.
“You come in here feeling empty, your life is over, but you leave believing you can do anything,” he said.
Following the death of his beloved mum when he was just 21 years old, Leroy says he had “a complete breakdown”.
“I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said. “I couldn’t feed myself, couldn’t shower, couldn’t look after myself. I’m the youngest of five siblings and I was so close to my mum. To be only 21 when she died, I just didn’t know what to do with myself.”
He was admitted to the old Kingsway hospital, which was to be the first of many experiences with the Trust.
“Things have changed so much over the years,” he said. “In the 80s it was more about finding the right medication for you. But now, there are so many other things going on to try to help you get better.
“I absolutely love reggae music, and when I was admitted to the Radbourne Unit this time I was in a bad way. Someone got a speaker and started playing reggae – soon everyone was up and dancing, even the nurses.”
Leroy is also an enthusiastic participant in the regular cooking sessions run by the occupational therapists at the unit, and particularly looks forward to Caribbean week where they make dishes like jerk chicken, rice and peas.
“It’s great, because we make it together and then we sit and eat it together,” he said. “We joke that it’s a bit like Come Dine With Me!
“People are always wary about what others will think if they say they’ve been mentally ill. But sometimes you just need to get that help because you’re poorly.
“It took me years to accept that I am bipolar, but since I accepted it, I’ve been able to work with it, recognise the signs when I’m going to be manic, and ask for the help when I need it.”
And he has these words for anyone who is worried about getting help.
“It’s ok if you are struggling to admit it, but don’t be scared. When you get the help you need, you realise you are worth something, you can do this and everything will be ok.”
Mental Health Awareness Week has been celebrated since 2001 and this year will run from Monday, 12 May, until Sunday, 18 May.
