Huw proves mental health stigma

I read with sadness and frustration your story last week about how the bosses of veteran BBC newscaster Huw Edwards handled his depression after he opened up to his work colleagues.

Their response was typical of so many people’s reaction to anything to do with mental health, by not responding sympathetically and not being quick enough to help. There really shouldn’t be a stigma surrounding this, as it’s more common than you think.

Huw was very brave to speak out about it and he is proof that just because you struggle with depression you can still hold down a job and do it well. However, there are people who find it hard to talk to those who are suffering.

The prevalence of stigma and discrimination towards people with mental illness makes it so hard to have a transparent conversation about how they feel. An open dialogue about mental health can help everyone heal.

In England alone, around one in eight men has a common problem such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. These are worrying statistics.

Seren Roberts, Llanarmon, Flintshire