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The 'white elephant in the room' The 'white elephant in the room'
(about 1 hour later)
To mark Suicide Prevention Week, the BBC Scotland news website speaks to a woman whose mother, father and brother all committed suicide.To mark Suicide Prevention Week, the BBC Scotland news website speaks to a woman whose mother, father and brother all committed suicide.
Mother-of-two Shona Manson set up the Mind Your Head campaign which aims to raise awareness of mental health.Mother-of-two Shona Manson set up the Mind Your Head campaign which aims to raise awareness of mental health.
Shona Manson set up the group as a "coping mechanism"
Shona Manson set up the group as a "coping mechanism"
Shetland-based mother-of-two Sheila Manson has experienced three family bereavements through suicide. Shetland-based mother-of-two Shona Manson has experienced three family bereavements through suicide.
Her mother, father and brother all committed suicide and, following her brother's death in 2004, she set up Mind Your Head.Her mother, father and brother all committed suicide and, following her brother's death in 2004, she set up Mind Your Head.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide.The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health and reduce the stigma surrounding suicide.
Shona, 39, believes we all have to be brave enough to speak about suicide as that is what will "ultimately save lives".Shona, 39, believes we all have to be brave enough to speak about suicide as that is what will "ultimately save lives".
Mind Your Head was set up shortly after the death of Gary Manson, 31. Shona said her younger brother had experienced difficulties since he was 16 and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.Mind Your Head was set up shortly after the death of Gary Manson, 31. Shona said her younger brother had experienced difficulties since he was 16 and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
She described setting up the campaign group as her coping mechanism for dealing with the deaths of her immediate family.She described setting up the campaign group as her coping mechanism for dealing with the deaths of her immediate family.
The organisation aims to reduce the stigma of mental health and promote mental health training, specifically in relation to suicide prevention.The organisation aims to reduce the stigma of mental health and promote mental health training, specifically in relation to suicide prevention.
I think the stigma around suicide still exists. When my mum died we really never uttered her name. I can remember being told that your mum has died and I didn't know how she had died till I was 12I think the stigma around suicide still exists. When my mum died we really never uttered her name. I can remember being told that your mum has died and I didn't know how she had died till I was 12
Shona told the BBC Scotland News website: "Following my brother's death in 2004, at his funeral we asked instead of flowers, for donations for Shetland mental health and we ended up with £3,500. Before we knew it, within a year we had £10,000.Shona told the BBC Scotland News website: "Following my brother's death in 2004, at his funeral we asked instead of flowers, for donations for Shetland mental health and we ended up with £3,500. Before we knew it, within a year we had £10,000.
"Lots of people did a sponsored walk or a run and we decided not to make a one-off donation, but to make an ongoing action, so hence Mind Your Head was born out of that.""Lots of people did a sponsored walk or a run and we decided not to make a one-off donation, but to make an ongoing action, so hence Mind Your Head was born out of that."
Shona admitted that the issue of mental health and specifically suicide was a difficult one.Shona admitted that the issue of mental health and specifically suicide was a difficult one.
She said: "I think the stigma around suicide still exists. When my mum died we really never uttered her name.She said: "I think the stigma around suicide still exists. When my mum died we really never uttered her name.
"I can remember being told that your mum has died and I didn't know how she had died till I was 12, you just assume it was cancer or something.""I can remember being told that your mum has died and I didn't know how she had died till I was 12, you just assume it was cancer or something."
"I think there used to be a stigma around cancer and the 'C word', people didn't say it and we have moved on hugely and I think we are moving on with mental health and suicide but there is still a lot more that can be done.""I think there used to be a stigma around cancer and the 'C word', people didn't say it and we have moved on hugely and I think we are moving on with mental health and suicide but there is still a lot more that can be done."
I feel like I'm doing something tangible because I can't change the past but I can hopefully have some influence over changing the future for other peopleI feel like I'm doing something tangible because I can't change the past but I can hopefully have some influence over changing the future for other people
As well as setting up the support group, Shona is also a qualified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer (ASIST). These trainers help people who have mental health issues, talk through their problems.As well as setting up the support group, Shona is also a qualified Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Trainer (ASIST). These trainers help people who have mental health issues, talk through their problems.
"The key message is talk about it, don't hide it. We all need to be aware that if people are saying things like 'there's no point anymore', those kind of final statements, we need to pick up on that and not be scared to ask what is wrong.""The key message is talk about it, don't hide it. We all need to be aware that if people are saying things like 'there's no point anymore', those kind of final statements, we need to pick up on that and not be scared to ask what is wrong."
Shona said: "Being involved in this way with the Mind Your Head group definitely feels like I am doing something tangible because I can't change the past but I can hopefully have some influence over changing the future for other people.Shona said: "Being involved in this way with the Mind Your Head group definitely feels like I am doing something tangible because I can't change the past but I can hopefully have some influence over changing the future for other people.
"It's like the big white elephant in the room, people don't want to talk about it but through the ASIST programme, we do hear the word so many times, people become more comfortable with it and they're naming the big white elephant they're not dodging around it ."It's like the big white elephant in the room, people don't want to talk about it but through the ASIST programme, we do hear the word so many times, people become more comfortable with it and they're naming the big white elephant they're not dodging around it .
"I think we all have the potential to dodge around it and I know I probably did in relation to my brother.""I think we all have the potential to dodge around it and I know I probably did in relation to my brother."
Shona is proud of the work Mind Your Head does in Shetland, but she added: "We all can have an influence, we shouldn't just leave it to the professionals.Shona is proud of the work Mind Your Head does in Shetland, but she added: "We all can have an influence, we shouldn't just leave it to the professionals.
"They have a role to play, a very important role but it is about everybody in society saying we can all help each other and be brave enough to speak about mental health and suicide and that is what ultimately prevents suicide and saves lives.""They have a role to play, a very important role but it is about everybody in society saying we can all help each other and be brave enough to speak about mental health and suicide and that is what ultimately prevents suicide and saves lives."