Ranting definitely helps!

It was the Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) AGM yesterday, and I took the opportunity to carry out a very informal survey at our mental health team stand. Sticky stars were in abundance, and the question I was asking was:

If you were feeling down, unhappy, anxious, and/or depressed, which of the following “interventions or treatments” would you choose? 

Listed on a chart I then had interventions/treatments, some of which are available now via GP surgeries (since the Mental Health Measure became law in October, although some, such as counselling, were already available), including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), bibliotherapy, counselling, peer support, gym or gardening on prescription. Other options were - anti-depressants, do nothing, or other: please name. Gym or gardening on prescription was top of the list, but the surprising thing was... that "other" turned out to be the next most popular choice. As it's hard to read people's suggestions from the photograph, I'll list them here, in no particular order: art therapy, have a drink, talk to family & friends (listed several times), ranting, connect & Google, talk to partner, Ponthafren Association, peer workshops/courses in self-awareness, food. Two categories were way down the list in popularity, each having a total of two stars each - anti-depressants, and do nothing.

If I'm honest, the most interesting thing I discovered from carrying out this small informal survey of AGM visitors, was that every single person had a story to tell about how mental distress had affected them personally. It really made me think again - someone needs to tell Stephen Fry - it isn't 1 in 4, it IS all of us.

PS: Oh yes, and that ranting definitely helps!