In The Mind - BBC

It's great to see the BBC doing a season of shows dedicated to mental health as of yesterday (Monday, February 15). First up was The Not So Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive, a follow up ten years on from Stephen Fry's first programme about his mental health issues.

 

The show is available to see on catch up on the BBC online and is well worth a watch for anyone interested in mental health - which, let's be honest should be everyone! It not only tracks Stephen's condition since the initial show, but also catches up with Cordelia who featured in 2006 and explores the stories of others diagnosed with bipolar.

 

One of the people featured was Alika, who was bullied online after a clip was filmed of him singing on the Tube during a manic episode. After a suicide attempt and time in a psychiatric unit, Alika now travels to schools to educate them about the condition. During a chat with some of the students at a particular school, they spoke about how a friend had committed suicide and - whilst they were all keen to speak about it - adults around them encouraged silence. This showed whilst there are still negative attitudes around mental health and suicide, actually people do want to talk about it and perhaps young people are even more willing to chat than those of older generations.

 

A comment from one of the students was particular poignant, she remarked that in the same way your body could be broken, your mind could be too.

 

Visit rachelholly90.wordpress.com to take a look at the blog of one of the people featured on the programme, who jumped from a 50ft balcony and was left paralysed due to her condition.

 

The 'In The Mind' season continues for the next two weeks including a series of special reports on BBC News at Six and News at Ten. A second documentary will air tonight (Tuesday) following the lives of two mothers who experienced postpartum psychosis. My Baby, Psychosis and Me starts at 10.45pm on BBC One.

 

Then tomorrow you can see a repeat of Life After Suicide, also at 10.45pm, followed by Professor Green: Suicide and Me at 11.45pm on Thursday.

 

Let us know what you think of any of the programmes mentioned on Facebook or Twitter (search Redditch Mental Health Action Group or @redditchmhag on Twitter).