[Applause] mental illness doesn’t exist thank you
mental illness doesn’t exist thank you
mental illness doesn’t exist thank you ladies and gentlemen that is the end of
ladies and gentlemen that is the end of
ladies and gentlemen that is the end of my speech no I’m kidding but what I’m
my speech no I’m kidding but what I’m
my speech no I’m kidding but what I’m not kidding about is the opinion that
not kidding about is the opinion that
not kidding about is the opinion that mental illness doesn’t exist the
mental illness doesn’t exist the
mental illness doesn’t exist the viewpoints that we don’t have depression
viewpoints that we don’t have depression
viewpoints that we don’t have depression and the idea that we can just snap out
and the idea that we can just snap out
and the idea that we can just snap out of it two years ago I made a decision I
of it two years ago I made a decision I
of it two years ago I made a decision I was going to die I was going to walk out
was going to die I was going to walk out
was going to die I was going to walk out of this building stand by the edge of
of this building stand by the edge of
of this building stand by the edge of the road and jump in front of a moving
the road and jump in front of a moving
the road and jump in front of a moving car for I had depression I could find no
car for I had depression I could find no
car for I had depression I could find no reason to live and I saw it as a death
reason to live and I saw it as a death
reason to live and I saw it as a death sentence depression can affect people in
sentence depression can affect people in
sentence depression can affect people in lots of different ways
lots of different ways
lots of different ways personally I suffered from insomnia deep
personally I suffered from insomnia deep
personally I suffered from insomnia deep feelings of despair hopelessness anger
feelings of despair hopelessness anger
feelings of despair hopelessness anger and sadness suicidal force I lost
and sadness suicidal force I lost
and sadness suicidal force I lost interest in all my favourite hobbies I
interest in all my favourite hobbies I
interest in all my favourite hobbies I stopped going to school because I
stopped going to school because I
stopped going to school because I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning
couldn’t get out of bed in the morning
couldn’t get out of bed in the morning and the worst feeling of all nothingness
and the worst feeling of all nothingness
and the worst feeling of all nothingness as if nothing will ever get better and
as if nothing will ever get better and
as if nothing will ever get better and you’ll be stuck with this horrible
you’ll be stuck with this horrible
you’ll be stuck with this horrible illness for the rest of your life I
illness for the rest of your life I
illness for the rest of your life I remember a conversation I had with my
remember a conversation I had with my
remember a conversation I had with my therapist in which I described being
therapist in which I described being
therapist in which I described being alive as waiting in a queue in
alive as waiting in a queue in
alive as waiting in a queue in McDonald’s thankfully my appetite never
McDonald’s thankfully my appetite never
McDonald’s thankfully my appetite never suffered because of my depression and
suffered because of my depression and
suffered because of my depression and for that I’m thankful everybody’s lined
for that I’m thankful everybody’s lined
for that I’m thankful everybody’s lined up waiting to get their food and
up waiting to get their food and
up waiting to get their food and gradually people are walking past me
gradually people are walking past me
gradually people are walking past me trays filled with Big Macs and boxes of
trays filled with Big Macs and boxes of
trays filled with Big Macs and boxes of 20 chicken nuggets meanwhile I’m not
20 chicken nuggets meanwhile I’m not
20 chicken nuggets meanwhile I’m not going anywhere
going anywhere
going anywhere although the people in front of me have
although the people in front of me have
although the people in front of me have moved on with their lives I’m no closer
moved on with their lives I’m no closer
moved on with their lives I’m no closer to the front
to the front
to the front I’m just static not moving not going
I’m just static not moving not going
I’m just static not moving not going forward forever
forward forever
needless to say my brain on depression
needless to say my brain on depression was not the nicest place to be something
was not the nicest place to be something
was not the nicest place to be something that always confuses me about mental
that always confuses me about mental
that always confuses me about mental illness is the questions that come with
illness is the questions that come with
illness is the questions that come with it
it
it why me so which I upend the most
why me so which I upend the most
why me so which I upend the most remarkable discussion point depression
remarkable discussion point depression
remarkable discussion point depression is the most liberal individual you’ll
is the most liberal individual you’ll
is the most liberal individual you’ll ever meet in your life
ever meet in your life
ever meet in your life it’s truly indiscriminate rich people
it’s truly indiscriminate rich people
it’s truly indiscriminate rich people have it poor people have it tall people
have it poor people have it tall people
have it poor people have it tall people have it short people have it people of
have it short people have it people of
have it short people have it people of every ethnic origin group in the world
every ethnic origin group in the world
every ethnic origin group in the world suffer from mental illness in fact
suffer from mental illness in fact
suffer from mental illness in fact Stephen Fry JK Rowling Eminem and Dwayne
Stephen Fry JK Rowling Eminem and Dwayne
Stephen Fry JK Rowling Eminem and Dwayne the rock Johnson’s mother all suffer
the rock Johnson’s mother all suffer
the rock Johnson’s mother all suffer from mental illness to one-third of the
from mental illness to one-third of the
from mental illness to one-third of the people in this room that’s one third of
people in this room that’s one third of
people in this room that’s one third of you will suffer from a mental health
you will suffer from a mental health
you will suffer from a mental health difficulty in your lifetime but the best
difficulty in your lifetime but the best
difficulty in your lifetime but the best thing you can tell any depressive is
thing you can tell any depressive is
thing you can tell any depressive is that it does get better I’m a living
that it does get better I’m a living
that it does get better I’m a living example of that okay so I’m still on
example of that okay so I’m still on
example of that okay so I’m still on medication so I’m not perfect so I have
medication so I’m not perfect so I have
medication so I’m not perfect so I have my down moments so I still have
my down moments so I still have
my down moments so I still have depression but I don’t put my mother in
depression but I don’t put my mother in
depression but I don’t put my mother in a state of panic every time I leave the
a state of panic every time I leave the
a state of panic every time I leave the house with her fearing that I might not
house with her fearing that I might not
house with her fearing that I might not come back and that to me is a victory on
come back and that to me is a victory on
come back and that to me is a victory on just a more positive stuff things that
just a more positive stuff things that
just a more positive stuff things that help me control my depression medication
help me control my depression medication
help me control my depression medication I’m currently on 150 milligrams of
I’m currently on 150 milligrams of
I’m currently on 150 milligrams of sertraline antidepressants and 6
sertraline antidepressants and 6
sertraline antidepressants and 6 milligrams of melatonin sleeping tablets
milligrams of melatonin sleeping tablets
milligrams of melatonin sleeping tablets when you first start to take
when you first start to take
when you first start to take antidepressants people express a fear at
antidepressants people express a fear at
antidepressants people express a fear at you they change who you are but that’s
you they change who you are but that’s
you they change who you are but that’s just not true if you need them you need
just not true if you need them you need
just not true if you need them you need them it’s no different from having high
them it’s no different from having high
them it’s no different from having high blood sugar or injecting insulin if
blood sugar or injecting insulin if
blood sugar or injecting insulin if you’ve got diabetes antidepressants
you’ve got diabetes antidepressants
you’ve got diabetes antidepressants allow me to be me exercise so I joined a
allow me to be me exercise so I joined a
allow me to be me exercise so I joined a gym and I started attending Park run on
gym and I started attending Park run on
gym and I started attending Park run on a Saturday morning it’s great exercise
a Saturday morning it’s great exercise
a Saturday morning it’s great exercise and relief releases endorphins in the
and relief releases endorphins in the
and relief releases endorphins in the brain which make you happier it’s ties
brain which make you happier it’s ties
brain which make you happier it’s ties in nicely with getting outside and being
in nicely with getting outside and being
in nicely with getting outside and being at one with nature writing things down
at one with nature writing things down
at one with nature writing things down when you write things down allows them
when you write things down allows them
when you write things down allows them to leave your head
to leave your head
to leave your head and once they’re on paper they no longer
and once they’re on paper they no longer
and once they’re on paper they no longer believe to you belong to you sorry this
believe to you belong to you sorry this
believe to you belong to you sorry this gives you the opportunity to focus on
gives you the opportunity to focus on
gives you the opportunity to focus on the important things in life as well as
the important things in life as well as
the important things in life as well as expressing yourself completely freely
expressing yourself completely freely
expressing yourself completely freely lastly and the most important thing is
lastly and the most important thing is
lastly and the most important thing is talking to people I remember when I
talking to people I remember when I
talking to people I remember when I first told somebody I’d been having
first told somebody I’d been having
first told somebody I’d been having these dark thoughts it was a teacher in
these dark thoughts it was a teacher in
these dark thoughts it was a teacher in school and I was absolutely terrified
school and I was absolutely terrified
school and I was absolutely terrified but I wasn’t terrified when I had to
but I wasn’t terrified when I had to
but I wasn’t terrified when I had to tell my PE teacher that I couldn’t play
tell my PE teacher that I couldn’t play
tell my PE teacher that I couldn’t play rugby because I hurt my back and I
rugby because I hurt my back and I
rugby because I hurt my back and I wasn’t terrified when I had to tell my
wasn’t terrified when I had to tell my
wasn’t terrified when I had to tell my friends that I couldn’t come to school
friends that I couldn’t come to school
friends that I couldn’t come to school because I had a stomach bug mental
because I had a stomach bug mental
because I had a stomach bug mental illness completely wrongly is a taboo
illness completely wrongly is a taboo
illness completely wrongly is a taboo subject it’s something that we should
subject it’s something that we should
subject it’s something that we should all just keep bottled up inside of us we
all just keep bottled up inside of us we
all just keep bottled up inside of us we don’t share it because we’re too afraid
don’t share it because we’re too afraid
don’t share it because we’re too afraid that the people were telling don’t care
that the people were telling don’t care
that the people were telling don’t care and that is the biggest problem in
and that is the biggest problem in
and that is the biggest problem in mental illness by itself when you have
mental illness by itself when you have
mental illness by itself when you have to wait for between 9 to 12 months to
to wait for between 9 to 12 months to
to wait for between 9 to 12 months to even ever have access to talking
even ever have access to talking
even ever have access to talking therapies you’re stuck inside of
therapies you’re stuck inside of
therapies you’re stuck inside of yourself unable to express yourself stop
yourself unable to express yourself stop
yourself unable to express yourself stop with those horrible feelings the key
with those horrible feelings the key
with those horrible feelings the key note of my speech is that I want the
note of my speech is that I want the
note of my speech is that I want the conversation on mental health to take
conversation on mental health to take
conversation on mental health to take flight I want the conversation about
flight I want the conversation about
flight I want the conversation about mental health to be as easily had as the
mental health to be as easily had as the
mental health to be as easily had as the conversation about a chest infection
conversation about a chest infection
conversation about a chest infection because there is simply no difference
because there is simply no difference
because there is simply no difference between the two all we really want in
between the two all we really want in
between the two all we really want in life is to have a friend the saying
life is to have a friend the saying
life is to have a friend the saying you’ve got a friend in me fits
you’ve got a friend in me fits
you’ve got a friend in me fits reasonably well I’ve got some homework
reasonably well I’ve got some homework
reasonably well I’ve got some homework for you all tonight that’s right you’ve
for you all tonight that’s right you’ve
for you all tonight that’s right you’ve come back to school and you’re already
come back to school and you’re already
come back to school and you’re already getting homework I want you to go home
getting homework I want you to go home
getting homework I want you to go home some ring text speak face-to-face to a
some ring text speak face-to-face to a
some ring text speak face-to-face to a friend and ask them how are you and then
friend and ask them how are you and then
friend and ask them how are you and then ask them again how are you really I
ask them again how are you really I
ask them again how are you really I wonder if the response will change now
wonder if the response will change now
wonder if the response will change now that they know that you’re genuinely
that they know that you’re genuinely
that they know that you’re genuinely asking and not just saying it’s be
asking and not just saying it’s be
asking and not just saying it’s be polite because as I said earlier we all
polite because as I said earlier we all
polite because as I said earlier we all just want friends to be there for us and
just want friends to be there for us and
just want friends to be there for us and I’m incredibly lucky
I’m incredibly lucky
I’m incredibly lucky because I’ve got so many amazing people
because I’ve got so many amazing people
because I’ve got so many amazing people in my life and here is a collage of a
in my life and here is a collage of a
in my life and here is a collage of a load of them the people at the top
load of them the people at the top
load of them the people at the top that’s mr. tall in a Miss Conway
that’s mr. tall in a Miss Conway
that’s mr. tall in a Miss Conway they basically acted as my brain for at
they basically acted as my brain for at
they basically acted as my brain for at year 11 because mine wasn’t working
year 11 because mine wasn’t working
year 11 because mine wasn’t working right there’s some way amazing friends
right there’s some way amazing friends
right there’s some way amazing friends there there’s some friends from my DAV
there there’s some friends from my DAV
there there’s some friends from my DAV group Lea Bertram and my amazing
group Lea Bertram and my amazing
group Lea Bertram and my amazing girlfriend in the middle Darius taschek
girlfriend in the middle Darius taschek
girlfriend in the middle Darius taschek there’s my family down the bottom
there’s my family down the bottom
there’s my family down the bottom there’s my brother and my sister if my
there’s my brother and my sister if my
there’s my brother and my sister if my mum would have let me she would have
mum would have let me she would have
mum would have let me she would have been this as well but she probably would
been this as well but she probably would
been this as well but she probably would have killed me so I left her out there’s
have killed me so I left her out there’s
have killed me so I left her out there’s some animals in there cuz they’re great
some animals in there cuz they’re great
some animals in there cuz they’re great to cuddle when you’re feeling bad
to cuddle when you’re feeling bad
to cuddle when you’re feeling bad there’s me running my friend James
there’s me running my friend James
there’s me running my friend James Miller up there so I’ve done some
Miller up there so I’ve done some
Miller up there so I’ve done some amazing things that have all helped me
amazing things that have all helped me
amazing things that have all helped me and the amazing people that have helped
and the amazing people that have helped
and the amazing people that have helped me deal with my depression in the last
me deal with my depression in the last
me deal with my depression in the last year things I’ve done that I never
year things I’ve done that I never
year things I’ve done that I never thought I could when I got depression
thought I could when I got depression
thought I could when I got depression I’ve gone to a foreign country I’ve
I’ve gone to a foreign country I’ve
I’ve gone to a foreign country I’ve completed my GCSEs with to a stars and
completed my GCSEs with to a stars and
completed my GCSEs with to a stars and five A’s I’m adapting a production of
five A’s I’m adapting a production of
five A’s I’m adapting a production of the little prince it’s going to be on in
the little prince it’s going to be on in
the little prince it’s going to be on in Harlow in 2018 I’ve performed in the
Harlow in 2018 I’ve performed in the
Harlow in 2018 I’ve performed in the Harley Playhouse in a production of the
Harley Playhouse in a production of the
Harley Playhouse in a production of the railway children I’ve worked in one job
railway children I’ve worked in one job
railway children I’ve worked in one job for 11 months I’ve done a TED talk on my
for 11 months I’ve done a TED talk on my
for 11 months I’ve done a TED talk on my depression I stood in a political debate
depression I stood in a political debate
depression I stood in a political debate on the EU referendum I found somebody
on the EU referendum I found somebody
on the EU referendum I found somebody who loves me who I genuinely loved there
who loves me who I genuinely loved there
who loves me who I genuinely loved there and most importantly I stayed alive my
and most importantly I stayed alive my
and most importantly I stayed alive my name is William Tennyson and these are
name is William Tennyson and these are
name is William Tennyson and these are my depression confessions thank you
thank you so hands up who wants to hang
thank you so hands up who wants to hang out with will because basically you need
out with will because basically you need
out with will because basically you need that level of positivity in your life
that level of positivity in your life
that level of positivity in your life that was absolutely incredible and I
that was absolutely incredible and I
that was absolutely incredible and I love I love the fact that even while you
love I love the fact that even while you
love I love the fact that even while you know you can you can talk about
know you can you can talk about
know you can you can talk about something that lots of people don’t and
something that lots of people don’t and
something that lots of people don’t and lots of people feel embarrass and
lots of people feel embarrass and
lots of people feel embarrass and exactly what you were saying about you
exactly what you were saying about you
exactly what you were saying about you would say I’ve broken my leg but we
would say I’ve broken my leg but we
would say I’ve broken my leg but we wouldn’t say I’m actually suffering
wouldn’t say I’m actually suffering
wouldn’t say I’m actually suffering really badly from depression how would
really badly from depression how would
really badly from depression how would you encourage just from the statistics
you encourage just from the statistics
you encourage just from the statistics that we know for people in the audience
that we know for people in the audience
that we know for people in the audience now people watching how would you
now people watching how would you
now people watching how would you encourage someone who is concerned about
encourage someone who is concerned about
encourage someone who is concerned about how they feel always constantly filled
how they feel always constantly filled
how they feel always constantly filled with thoughts that are dark but hasn’t
with thoughts that are dark but hasn’t
with thoughts that are dark but hasn’t been able to put the word depression to
been able to put the word depression to
been able to put the word depression to it or is fearful of what might happen if
it or is fearful of what might happen if
it or is fearful of what might happen if they spoke out what would your advice to
they spoke out what would your advice to
they spoke out what would your advice to them be well when I first realised I had
them be well when I first realised I had
them be well when I first realised I had depression I didn’t know what the word
depression I didn’t know what the word
depression I didn’t know what the word meant and it was only when I spoke to
meant and it was only when I spoke to
meant and it was only when I spoke to this teacher that they mentioned the
this teacher that they mentioned the
this teacher that they mentioned the word depression to me and suddenly it
word depression to me and suddenly it
word depression to me and suddenly it all sort of fell into place and so
all sort of fell into place and so
all sort of fell into place and so having that conversation getting those
having that conversation getting those
having that conversation getting those forts outside of your head and having
forts outside of your head and having
forts outside of your head and having someone’s of comment back to you and
someone’s of comment back to you and
someone’s of comment back to you and have a discussion about how you’re
have a discussion about how you’re
have a discussion about how you’re feeling will definitely help them to
feeling will definitely help them to
feeling will definitely help them to sort of reach your conclusion about
sort of reach your conclusion about
sort of reach your conclusion about where they are but always seek medical
where they are but always seek medical
where they are but always seek medical attention you know doctors are always
attention you know doctors are always
attention you know doctors are always there always make the steps if you’re
there always make the steps if you’re
there always make the steps if you’re worried just go and see your doctor
worried just go and see your doctor
worried just go and see your doctor that’s that what they’re there for
that’s that what they’re there for
that’s that what they’re there for and it’s interesting that connection
and it’s interesting that connection
and it’s interesting that connection between kind of education and health
between kind of education and health
between kind of education and health there are two bodies that have a wealth
there are two bodies that have a wealth
there are two bodies that have a wealth of experience that can support us and as
of experience that can support us and as
of experience that can support us and as of a future labor leader of Parliament I
of a future labor leader of Parliament I
of a future labor leader of Parliament I think and their minds they live down
think and their minds they live down
think and their minds they live down what do you think our kind of as a
what do you think our kind of as a
what do you think our kind of as a community collectively how do we help
community collectively how do we help
community collectively how do we help change opinions towards this I think we
change opinions towards this I think we
change opinions towards this I think we need to it’s about the conversation yeah
need to it’s about the conversation yeah
need to it’s about the conversation yeah you know if everybody spoke openly about
you know if everybody spoke openly about
you know if everybody spoke openly about it or if we stopped you know judging
it or if we stopped you know judging
it or if we stopped you know judging people or you know having a negative
people or you know having a negative
people or you know having a negative reaction then the whole conversation
reaction then the whole conversation
reaction then the whole conversation will change and it’s just about starting
will change and it’s just about starting
will change and it’s just about starting that conversation hello my name is will
that conversation hello my name is will
that conversation hello my name is will and I have depression and yeah I think
and I have depression and yeah I think
and I have depression and yeah I think some people I think that some of us
some people I think that some of us
some people I think that some of us certainly haven’t been in education
certainly haven’t been in education
certainly haven’t been in education being a teacher myself there’s that fear
being a teacher myself there’s that fear
being a teacher myself there’s that fear sometimes of I’m not an expert how can I
sometimes of I’m not an expert how can I
sometimes of I’m not an expert how can I help but it’s not about being an expert
help but it’s not about being an expert
help but it’s not about being an expert having a
having a
having a conversation it’s about being there yeah
conversation it’s about being there yeah
conversation it’s about being there yeah well as I said the best thing you can
well as I said the best thing you can
well as I said the best thing you can tell somebody is that it does get better
tell somebody is that it does get better
tell somebody is that it does get better and everyone can say that yeah well I
and everyone can say that yeah well I
and everyone can say that yeah well I don’t know if you know this well but
don’t know if you know this well but
don’t know if you know this well but because of what you’ve done today here’s
because of what you’ve done today here’s
because of what you’ve done today here’s another thing to add to your depression
another thing to add to your depression
another thing to add to your depression professions because of you being part of
professions because of you being part of
professions because of you being part of this event today and all of our young
this event today and all of our young
this event today and all of our young people what we’ve managed to do is to
people what we’ve managed to do is to
people what we’ve managed to do is to raise enough money to train 20 teachers
raise enough money to train 20 teachers
raise enough money to train 20 teachers across Harlow to become given mental
across Harlow to become given mental
across Harlow to become given mental health training so that other students
health training so that other students
health training so that other students other people like you will be able to
other people like you will be able to
other people like you will be able to find someone and talk to them and they
find someone and talk to them and they
find someone and talk to them and they will look out for science and that my
will look out for science and that my
will look out for science and that my friend is on you because of what you did
friend is on you because of what you did
friend is on you because of what you did today because of that commitment you’ve
today because of that commitment you’ve
today because of that commitment you’ve helped to do that so that is awesome and
helped to do that so that is awesome and
helped to do that so that is awesome and it’s been organized by Lisa of whole ed
it’s been organized by Lisa of whole ed
it’s been organized by Lisa of whole ed where’s Lisa is she here you’ve been
where’s Lisa is she here you’ve been
where’s Lisa is she here you’ve been quiet you’re making it worse because I
quiet you’re making it worse because I
quiet you’re making it worse because I will stand here until I know where
will stand here until I know where
will stand here until I know where you’re just that that is incredible
you’re just that that is incredible
you’re just that that is incredible because I know for one you know when
because I know for one you know when
because I know for one you know when will talks and he talks about being able
will talks and he talks about being able
will talks and he talks about being able to speak to people that is amazing to 20
to speak to people that is amazing to 20
to speak to people that is amazing to 20 adults that can be available for young
adults that can be available for young
adults that can be available for young people and that’s on you you’re amazing
people and that’s on you you’re amazing
people and that’s on you you’re amazing well done
well done
well done [Applause]
”
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