Editor’s letter
A problem shared is a problem halved. This old adage has certainly helped me in tough times. I’m sure many of you have bottled up troubles, but when you’ve finally shared them with a friend, you’ve walked away feeling like a weight has been lifted.
For someone who lives with mental illness, however, not having someone to talk to about what’s going on can have tragic consequences.
This week in Woman’sDay, we start our Half It campaign (page 22), highlighting the importance of taking the time to listen to those with mental health issues. For the next six weeks, we will speak to well-known Kiwis who will explain how having a muchneeded ear has helped them during their darkest days – and hopefully inspire you to reach out and start a conversation with a friend you may be worried about.
I know how much readers adore our columnist Polly Gillespie and I do as well. Fans love her because she’s warm, funny, bubbly, open and honest. And yes, she is all those things. But this week, Polly reveals she has also lived with depression and anxiety since she was a teen. She never spoke out before because she thought people might think she was “crazy”. But with the overwhelming tide urging more open conversation around mental health to end the stigma attached, I’m proud Polly has decided more benefit will come from sharing her story.
When the young royals, William, Harry and Kate, launched their Heads Together campaign last year – reminding us that mental health is as important as physical health and that statistics can’t be improved if society remains silent on the subject – it really resonated with me at Woman’sDay. I think we have an important role as a magazine to try to make a difference so more people can enjoy positive mental health and wellbeing.
One in five Kiwis experiences mental health issues and there are currently 640,000 people who have been diagnosed with depression. October 8-14 is Mental Health Awareness Week, and I encourage you to read Polly’s story, then think about whether there’s someone you’re concerned about and reach out. We can all play our parts by talking and listening to each other – and it may make a difference to someone’s life.