Hey! Welcome to Together We Can Be!

Hey! I’d like to welcome you all to Together We Can Be, a blog where personal experiences will be shared with the purpose of promoting Mental Health and conveying the importance of communication, when in the process of rebuilding your mental strength.

 

Before getting into the intentions behind the blog, I’d first like to tell you a bit about myself, so that you can relate to my character as you read through my journey.

 

My name is Akshay, I am 25 years old and have been working professionally in the Rail Industry for the past 5 years in Central London. I think of myself as someone who has worked hard to learn and progress to where I am today, all while enjoying as many social aspects on offer in London. During my time of working in central London, I have lived and still currently live at home with my family just outside of West London.

 

Personally, I like to be known as a fun, bubbly extrovert. You can often find me smiling through life as I enjoy chilling socially with friends in addition to spending as much time with family as I can. I have a passion for both travelling the world and meeting new people as I go. As a consequence of this, I am one to lower my guard as my nature tends to be quite easily trusting to allow me to enjoy my social life as I engage with people on a personal level.

 

Upon reading this, you may think, “how can someone as lively as you, be writing a mental health blog?” I thought the same, mental health was a concept that I never really considered nor thought I’d be one to suffer from it / never did I think that I’d be one to suffer from mental health issues. But I later learnt, Mental illness does not discriminate. Mental illness can affect anyone, at any one time, no matter race, religion, age, gender and even the character/personality of a person.

 

Mental health is a concept that I have struggled with since 2017, and, after first getting knocked down to my lowest point, I was able to take the steps to realise my issues, strengthen my mental state and regain control of my life. However, this was a journey I could never have done alone – I would not be where I am today without having the help from those closest to me being there when I needed someone to listen and also advise me on how best to deal with my struggles. I am not ashamed to admit that I went through counselling as I am better because of it, and in truth, am now able to speak out to you all about my life.

 

My original intention was never to actually start a blog. The idea started as just thoughts on paper where I felt it may be helpful for me to attempt to write down everything I went through and reflect on my thoughts and feelings. However, since starting writing in addition to reading other metal health blogs out there, I have realised there are few blogs written from the Asian male perspective.  Having been through what I have, and now being openly able to talk about it, though being quite nerve wrecking at the same time, I thought a blog would be a good way to get my life story out there and spread my message. Please note that I do not have a degree in psychology nor have taken any courses in either counselling or mental health; all that I write in my blogs are purely my truths and experiences, and the lessons I have learnt along the way.

 

Within the home page of this blog, I have attached a couple of mental health support lines, where mental health advocates are readily available to talk to or to just listen via both phone and email. If you are one seeking help but are not yet comfortable confiding in those closest to you, these support lines will hopefully give you the comfort you require. They are both confidential and are not ones to judge nor comment. Both were support lines that I personally used and found helpful when I thought I had no one to talk to.

 

Further to this, I have also attached my personal email, togetherwecanbe1@gmail.com. This email can be used if any of you wanted to get in touch, ask me any questions about my experiences, or you may feel more comfortable opening up to someone who has been through similar issues. So please feel free to get in touch with me, even if it’s just to say hello and have an informal, friendly conversation.