WHEN was the last time you talked about your mental health?

If we have a nagging pain, a toothache or a common cold we think nothing of sounding off about how lousy we feel. If we've been to the doctor or to hospital with a physical problem we share our experiences with friends, relatives, neighbours and colleagues. "How are you?" people say. "I'm fine thanks," comes the usual reply - even if we're not.

If we're a bit stressed or fed up we tend to be reluctant to reveal how we're feeling. No-one likes a whinger. Don't bring your personal issues to work. Everyone has problems, there's always somebody worse off, so get a grip and crack on.

This is what's expected of us if we're feeling out of sorts. But what if it's more than just feeling out of sorts?

I woke up about three years ago feeling so low I briefly considered walking onto a local railway bridge to make it all go away. My parents were both dying, a relationship had ended badly, and I couldn't stop crying. But I told nobody how I felt because, hey, people had their own problems and I felt weak and selfish. When I did finally confide in a friend, it helped enormously.

This week the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry spoke out against the “keep quiet and carry on” culture surrounding mental health, as they launched the next phase of their Heads Together campaign. The Royals urged people to start a conversation with a friend, relative or a stranger if they have a psychological problem.

Speaking at an event held by Heads Together - an umbrella group of mental health organisations - the Duke said: “There are times when, whoever we are, it is hard to cope with challenges - and when that happens, being open and honest and asking for help is life-changing." He added that people were suffering in silence, "bearing the weight alone for fear of judgement".

I recently talked to an inspiring mum who had "dark times" when her baby fell critically ill. Becky Doyle's world fell apart when seven-week-old Liam suffered a massive seizure six years ago. When they got to hospital Becky was told he had meningitis and may not survive. Thankfully he did, but young Liam has been left with recurring health problems which affected Becky's mental wellbeing. "I kept thinking: ‘Today’s the day it happens’," said Becky, re-living the fear that her son might die. "I thought: ‘Is this is how my life is going to be - always having nightmares?’

Taking up running helped to lift Becky's depression, and she also got involved with Best Beginnings, a charity supporting young parents which was represented at a World Mental Health Day event held by Heads Together. "Only by talking about mental health can we tackle it," said Becky. "You have to recognise that you have a problem, otherwise you're never going to deal with it."

It is thanks to people like Becky and the Royal trio - and high profile figures such as former England footballer Rio Ferdinand and rapper Professor Green, who both attended Tuesday''s Heads Together event - that mental health issues are being addressed more openly. Over coming months, Heads Together will highlight people from all walks of life, talking about the life-changing conversations that helped them with mental health challenges. Hopefully this will encourage others to do the same.

As the Duchess of Cambridge said: “If we succeed, we will have taken a powerful step in normalising mental health as an issue in our society, thinking about it as we do our own physical health.”

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