Mental health worker believes his personal diagnosis enhances his ability to support others
A mental health worker's schizophrenia diagnosis has helped him to better understand and empathise with people struggling with certain issues, The Malta Independent on Sunday was told during an interview.Matthew Paris, a mental health professional wi
A mental health worker's schizophrenia diagnosis has helped him to better understand and empathise with people struggling with certain issues, The Malta Independent on Sunday was told during an interview.
Matthew Paris, a mental health professional with the Richmond Foundation, said that he had experienced episodes of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts and that his main diagnosis was schizophrenia. He explained that his symptoms began at age 15, and at the time, he had very limited knowledge of mental health and illness. However, he gradually started to understand it by interacting with professionals who were helping him deal with his own struggles.
He explained that he believes he underwent a big perspective change over time, "where you go from sort of looking at it as something that you have or something that may be wrong with you". Paris continued that for him, it developed into being something that he is, rather than something that he has. Having said that, he remarked that he is not saying that he identifies "as just my mental illness", but that he accepted that it was part of who he is. He said that this acceptance helps him understand the challenges of mental health.
Speaking about his own experiences with mental health, he said that one thing that he particularly focuses on is the informal support that people may have, such as friends, family and colleagues. He said that having that type of support in place can sometimes make even more of a difference than having professional support.
He commented that professional support is still very important as a means for people to know that they have an experienced professional they can go and speak to if they are feeling troubled, but a "person-to-person" style, consisting of people they already know, can be a very important support system. He recalled that this support framework played a role in helping him deal with his own situation.
When prompted with what motivated him to work as a mental health professional and assist others, he said that he thinks it is part of how he is as a person, and that he has always been empathetic and liked helping others. Continuing in the same vein, he was asked how his own experience impacted him personally and how it relates to his work. He replied that going through such a situation himself and understanding how it affected him personally helps him recognise how challenging it can be for others when they feel misunderstood or unsupported in whatever they're going through. "If I can be that one person who understands somebody, then I think it is a really important thing that I have to do, so that people know they're not the only ones going through something like that."
He was asked if there are certain resources available to people in his profession to assist them in dealing with the personal difficulty that may arise through regularly helping others in their struggles.
Paris answered that it is something the industry takes very seriously. For his particular workplace, he said that professionals have supervision with their line manager every couple of weeks and that certain difficulties or tough situations may be discussed during those sessions. He commented that although he believes his own experience with mental health issues has impacted his work in a mostly positive way, "sometimes taking on extra things from others can be quite heavy as well". He continued that they also have monthly meetings to discuss team and work dynamics to make sure that there are no difficulties between the workers as their workplace can be an emotionally challenging environment to work in.
The newsroom inquired about the signs or behaviours someone might display when experiencing depression or other mental health challenges, as well as what should be done by people who notice or become aware of someone displaying such behaviour.
Paris said that from his own personal, as well as professional experience, one of the more common symptoms is social withdrawal. He remarked that this may be common and that it does not need to "necessarily be a big thing for a very long time". He explained that it could be the case that someone gradually stops showing up to things as often as they once did or that they may suddenly start missing out on plans or events regularly. He added that he mentions it specifically in the case of Malta because one "can't really withdraw from society in Malta unless you stay by yourself".
He remarked that quite a few signs and symptoms could be verbal and that people might just tell you how they feel as a joke or offhand comment, "or they might actually tell you how they feel, but you don't think too much of it in the moment". Acknowledging this, he said that it is good to talk about signs and symptoms which may be more difficult to notice, but it's equally important to pay attention to what people openly express.
Illustrating this, he said that if somebody comes up to you and says that they feel overwhelmed by things going on in their lives, be it stressful work or something else, "keep interacting with them and see if they want or need further support".
He added that some other signs may be seen as someone not taking care of themselves, such as lack of personal hygiene or not keeping up their routines or hobbies, which they previously enjoyed.
Having discussed what signs and behaviours to look out for, Paris was asked if there were certain signs or behaviours that he believes he may have exhibited and whether people picked up on them in his personal experience with mental health issues.
"There were definitely signs and symptoms before I started seeking help when I was dealing with my symptoms by myself and hadn't really spoken to anyone... Obviously sometimes with psychosis, those can seem a little obscure, but yes, my social withdrawal was there; I was not going out with my friends as much and I used to dismiss myself from school very often as well."
Paris said that these all could have been signs that something was up, "maybe not specifically what", but that there was something which was weighing on him and that he was finding challenging. He continued that it can be difficult to identify behaviour exhibited by teenagers and know if it may be a sign of something or not. "We need to find that line and understand when it is teenage behaviour and when it might be something a little more serious."
With that said, he remarked that he always goes by the mantra of being better off safe than sorry. "If you ask somebody what's up, and nothing's up, you've not wasted anyone's time and you've not done anything wrong, but if something is up and you haven't asked, then you might have missed an opportunity to support somebody and they might have missed an opportunity to be able to express themselves."
The mental health professional was then asked what he believes people should do if they notice concerning signs in their friends or family members.
He replied that the first and most simple step is to do what you would generally do if you notice something unusual, and used the example of seeing someone bleeding from their nose. He said that if you notice something is off, you would go and ask if they are okay and if they need anything. "I think that has to be the first step, and you can't bypass that first step. You can't help somebody without actually trying to help them. Just asking them what they need might be enough."
Paris continued that beyond that, it is about being informed. He said that not everyone can be expected to know how to deal with the array of mental health issues that may crop up, but that if you see a friend dealing with something and are unsure about how to handle it, then there are certain services or professionals which can be contacted to help guide you.
"It can seem very scary and panicky in the moment, but once you have someone who can guide you, it feels a lot easier," he concluded.
Services that can help in Malta
- Call 1770, a Richmond Foundation service, where you can reach trained psychology officers who will listen and offer you guidance.
- Chat for help: OLLI chat and Kellimni.com both offer a space for those seeking psychological support through an online chatting platform.
- Call 1579, a 24-hour national telephone helpline, providing immediate and free emotional support, advice and practical guidance for anyone in need.
- Call 112: This is the general emergency number in Malta. In any life-threatening or serious emergency situation, including mental health crises, you can call this number for immediate assistance.
- Call Appoġġ Supportline 179: Appoġġ is a national agency that provides a range of services, including helpline support for those in crisis. Their helpline, 179, is available 24/7 and offers support for individuals facing various challenges, including mental health issues.
- In case of a severe mental health crisis, individuals may be directed to or seek help through the psychiatric 24/7 emergency service, based at the Accident and Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital. One can self-refer or else obtain a referral through their local doctor.
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