Vet Kirstie Pickles frankly discusses her experience of anxiety and depression as well as her recent diagnosis of autism. 'I am very open about being autistic, both to help myself stay well and reduce my triggers and also to encourage other people that it is ok.'

Vet James Glass was diagnosed with severe depressive disorder in 2018 and was off work for nine months. James writes: 'Life is absolutely worth living again and, while I might not have chosen this pathway, it’s a privilege to use my experience to help others.'

'The manic highs can often be part of great things such as founding Vets Stay Go Diversify. They remind me that I’m beautifully human and I’m not a robot and that big mental health moments have acted as important pivot points for me to reevaluate what I want to do and why. Be them in the phases of my hypomania or my depression.'

On the aftermath of a traumatic work experience:

 'The fear and isolation of this event led me to take the risky decision to start talking about my mental health as much as I could to as many people as would listen.  I was advised not to but did it anyway.  And my life changed from there. '

'I don’t want to collude with the fantasy that depression, or any other mental illness, only happens to other people. It has certainly happened to me.'

'My mental health is a part of me, but it does not define me. Certainly not as a nurse.'

'It was at this time I realised that I needed help. It had only taken me 25 years to come to this realisation.'

'I wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone, but I could not have gained such insights into the world and myself without it.  Depression leaves a stain on your soul, even when you fully recover, but that scar serves to remind me of the journey I’ve made and be grateful.'

'Hopefully by sharing my story, we can work to reduce the stigma, and open early channels of communication to help look after the mental health of ourselves and others.'

'Adapt if you need to because of the illness, but never because of the stigma of the illness, whether self-stigma or otherwise.'

'The single most important realisation for me was that I am always going to be vulnerable and it was necessary to come to terms with that “weakness” whether I liked the idea or not.'

Cathy is passionate about speaking out and reducing the stigma around mental health. 

'There is still a long way to go to eliminate not only the stigma of current mental illness, but also of the past. While I worked in A&E until August last year, I did my utmost to be open about myself and to educate my colleagues.'

Jamie says that it is really important that people at the top of the profession speak openly about the fact that they are human too! 

'We would not hesitate to tell people if we broke a bone; the same should apply to mental health. 

What surprised me was the number of people who have been affected and you will always find someone who has been there – support from others is invaluable in those difficult times so you do not have to suffer alone.'

'Stigma can be addressed and challenged but this work needs recognition, involvement and reinforcement. We all have to take part. 

For my part "My name is Susan, I am a senior GP and I have a history of depression".'

Malcolm finds that having taken some of the medications he now prescribes can be rather helpful in terms of understanding their effects!

'The worst stigma I've experienced over the years was the stigma I put on myself.  

Speaking out about my illness has helped me to feel less ashamed - I now feel incredibly proud of my experiences and the way I manage my mental health.'

'When I asked for advice about how to access help one of the answers I got was one of ‘whatever you do, make sure that you don't have any mental illness in your medical records otherwise you will never go anywhere in your medical career'. 

However, getting the diagnosis (bipolar affective disorder) and help from a Consultant Psychiatrist was the best thing that ever happened.'

'My episode of mental ill-health by no means defines me but it’s an important part of me and, although I would not wish it upon anyone, I think it has changed me in a positive way, both personally and professionally.'

'It is 24 years since my mental illness. I now work in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest mental health and learning disability trusts in England – and one of only two to be rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission…. I do not feel that my illness has stopped me.'

'When I was sick, I was told that a colleague had ‘always thought that I was a mental health problem waiting to happen.’ 

On reflection, yes that was true, but only in as much as this applies to ALL of us during our lives.'