Let's Talk About | Mental Health

I've been planning these posts for a long time, and the reason it's taken me so long is simply because I wanted to be able to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy writing them, as I feel it's important to 'do it right'. I'm aiming to keep these posts frequent, hopefully every Sunday but I'm going to give a heads up now and say that sometimes they could be delayed as these are not the sort of posts I want to rush.

Secondly, I will likely be going into a significant amount of detail in this series, so if there's anything that you find upsetting or are struggling to read, please don't feel that you have to force yourself to read the whole post. I'm here if any of you EVER need someone to chat to don't hesitate to message me on Twitter- my username is @neverlandhan.

I'm going to start off with some statistics relating to mental health, in case there's anyone reading this who maybe doesn't fully understand the significance of these issues.

In a year, as many as 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problems. This means that pretty much everyone will either have experience these issues themselves or have a close friend or family member who does.

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems- these account for around 80% of cases. At present, around 3 in every 100 people have depression.

In my opinion, one of the most frustrating and upsetting things about mental health today is the stigma surrounding each and every illness. 9 in 10 people with mental health problems have experienced stigma and discrimination. I firmly believe that mental health is equally as important as physical health, so these figures shock and upset me. Although times are slowly starting to change and people are beginning to talk about mental health a little more, it's still very much a 'taboo' subject.

The majority of people have little or no understanding of mental health. This prevents them from talking about it as much as they should, and it also means that those who are suffering are less likely to ask for help as they don't know that they can get help. Regardless of setting, good information and understanding about where to get effective help and treatment for mental health problems is invaluable when a crisis occurs.

That's why I've decided to write these posts- I'm not expecting them to go viral but I hope that the information I share in these posts will be shared to help as many people as possible- at the very least I want to try and raise more awareness and make mental health less of a taboo topic.

I know I'm not the best at keeping up with posts and for that I apologise but I will honestly be trying my best with this series. I start university next month so things are gonna be a little hectic but I've allocated a time slot each week to try and write and upload each post.

The Samaritans run a free 24 hour helpline offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Their number is 116 123.

'They're Not Just a Band'

Firstly, I'd just like to take a moment to pay tribute to the victims of the Manchester attack. 22 beautiful angels were taken far too soon- nobody should go to a concert to not return home.

Another incredible Vamps tour has just ended and the past few days have really seen me reflecting on the impact that the band have had on my life. After over 4 years downloading and promoting new music, going to shows and meeting the boys, I've made countless memories that will no doubt last a lifetime.

It's amazing how many times I've answered the question 'But why do you go to so many of their shows, aren't they all the same?'. You could argue that this is true in that the same set list will be played for a whole tour- but every experience is different.Each show is spent with different friends, often in a different venue and in a different area. This means that so many amazing and unique memories are made at each show and they last forever. Even if every experience was identical and spent with the same people, what's to say I won't still make more amazing memories at each and every show? Because to me, The Vamps aren't just a band, they're a fundamental source of happiness.

To me, going to a Vamps show isn't about seeing a group of attractive boys performing. It's not about being able to post a billion photos and videos of the show online to brag about my experience. It's not even about the music. It's about being able to make wonderful memories with some of my best friends in the world- whilst being at my absolute happiest.

The past few years have been an emotional roller-coaster for me- there's been a heck of a lot of ups where I've made happy memories, but there's also been a lot of downs, where I've struggled to pull through and see the positives. But thanks to this band, things have grown so much clearer for me. The feeling of total happiness and freedom that I feel at the shows is so powerful it'd be impossible to put it into words. Months of saving and planning all culminate when tour time comes around, and the boys never disappoint.

For this years 'Middle of the Night' tour, I was lucky enough to visit 5 cities and travel 1,800 miles for the band who had such a significant impact on my life. Since 2015, I've been to at least 3 dates of each tour, and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I genuinely don't think I could just go to one Vamps show at tour- as soon as the lights go down and the curtain drops the adrenaline takes over and I catch the 'bug'. The boys set may only last about an hour and a half, but the excitement lasts all day. Starting with waking up in the morning (cheesy pun not intended), and carrying right on through until going to bed that night it's pretty safe to say that I'm in my element at tour time.

I don't just support The Vamps because I like meeting them, but those experiences truly are magical. I've met the band quite a few times now and I cannot do enough to express how grateful I am for that. The few short seconds spent with the boys are filled with such overwhelming happiness that I genuinely don't think I can explain, but if you've met your favourite people before then I'm sure you can relate to what I'm trying to express. (If not, I promise you will meet them soon!).

I'm no medical expert but I know for certain that going to these shows has genuine health benefits for me. Aside from the 47,248 calories burned by jumping around and going crazy, it's been proven that being at your happiest works wonders for your health- and Vamps concerts certainly make me feel that way.

Don't just take my word for all of this. I asked on Twitter why people went to concerts, and here are a few of the responses:

"Because they're the only place I feel safe and happy. Gigs are the actual most magical thing in the world, music is the only reason I'm still going and hearing music live is just magic".

"Concerts will never not be my safe haven. I can always rely on my favourite band to help me see the positives in my life and pull me through the darkest of times".

"I go to concerts because music is a very big part of my life and it's like an escape for me when I'm feeling stressed or angry. I love to go and see my favourite artists do what they love and see them on stage in front of arenas full of people. I love how at a concert you can forget all the worries and stresses in your life even if it's just for a couple of hours and become united with people who love the same type of music as you".

Concerts are sort of like a 'light at the end of the tunnel'. What I mean is it's something to look forward to no matter how tough times are, no matter how much negativity I'm surrounded by. They're something I can focus on and they help give me a clearer mindset when everything else around me is out of focus.

Being at these shows gives me a really strong sense of belonging- I often struggle to mix with people and feel at home. In 'ordinary' scenarios, I really need to psych myself up in order to go out and interact with my peers- but concerts are the opposite. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel any stress in the lead up to tour- but it's genuinely nice to be worrying about 'normal' things like 'Help what should I wear?' and 'Why is public transport in Britain so bloody expensive?'. I also get a sense of belonging on Twitter- recent hashtags have included #ConfidentForTheVamps which saw so many amazing and positive comments shared among fans, and it seriously boosted my confidence.

I'm sorry if this post has been a bit repetitive but I just wanted to try and get everything I feel onto this black and white post to share my feelings with anyone reading this! I do hope you enjoyed reading- if you did, or if you share the same feelings and want to have a little chat, feel free to drop a comment or send me a message over on Twitter- my username is @neverlandhan!

Review: Wellington Coffee Edinburgh

Hello! I've neglected my blog soo much lately and I figured the best way to get back into it would be a quick little review of a really lovely coffee shop I recently visited in Edinburgh.

Residing at 33A George Street, Wellington Coffee is incredibly easy to miss if you don't know it's there- but if you do happen to be in the area, I can't recommend it enough!

As you can see, it's really small and cosy so if you visit with hopes of sitting in, I'd advise against going at rush hour. But don't let this deter you- the lack of seating only adds to how delightfully quaint this coffee shop is.

Established in 2008, the coffee shop appears to have built up quite the reputation with coffee enthusiasts and business people alike. Once inside, it's not hard to see why. Seating just 17 people inside and out, the popularity of this small coffee shop far outstretches its capacity.

Even the lights are unique, giving Wellington an even stronger sense of unique character.  Despite the small menu, all of the classic coffee shop offerings are available. I'm ever so slightly obsessed with 'bits and bobs', so as you can probably imagine I was in my element in a place like this. 

Latte

Hot Chocolate

All in all, I genuinely cannot fault this place. So if you're ever in the area, whatever you're after; a place to work, a place to watch the world go by or simply somewhere to grab a really good cup of coffee, try Wellington.