COSMOPOLITAN · 97air supply to this town and its people.
But it’s not just Corby; the issues faced
here could easily grip any community
in the same way, because we are a
nation in psychological crisis. One
in four young women has a mental
health problem,* one in 15 people has
made a suicide attempt in their life,†
and in the past decade, antidepressant
prescriptions have doubled.‡ People
recount their experiences with mental
ill-health online so frequently that
you would be forgiven for thinking
the taboo surrounding it had long
been smashed. And yet, in the UK,
there are still 300,000 people with
long-term mental health problems
who allege discrimination.** Since
2010, funding to mental health
services has been cut by almost £600
million†† and the treatment gap has
increased to the point that 75% of
those suffering with a mental health
problem don’t receive help.‡‡ Despite
Instagram and start scrolling. A slew
of long, unprovoked monologues in
so many of the captions floods my
feed; people are talking constantly
about their mental health, airing their
“demons” and urging us all to do the
same. But if the past week has taught
me anything, it’s that just because
we see the conversation happening
online, on our favourite TV shows
and in influencer vlogs, that does
not mean it’s happening everywhere.
Or that those who need help have
somewhere to go, even if they do
open up. Our collective mental health
is worsening, and towns like Corby
are on the front line; barometers for
our future, if we don’t act soon. Tia
says it best: “One of the main reasons
I go to counselling is for my daughter.
I don’t want history to repeat itself.”◆
If you’re struggling, call Samaritans for
free on 116 123BEHIND THE SCENESDaniella Scott
“A few days into my visit,
I got chatting to a hen party. As soon as I
mentioned the mental health crisis in Corby,
they all had something to say – much like
everyone else I met. One girl, sipping a
cocktail the colour of a radioactive lipstick,
suddenly spoke up: ‘I was referred for
bereavement counselling by my GP.
I’ve been waiting four months... so far.’”READtaking up 23% of NHS activity, only
11% of NHS budget is assigned to
mental health-related issues.HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
On a sleepy street 30 minutes from the
town centre, Teamwork Trust’s weekly
support group, Men’s Shed, is in full
swing. It’s been three weeks since these
local men last met to do woodwork
and discuss their mental health, so
today’s session is like a reunion.
A tall man with a baritone voice and
neatly ironed shirt clears his throat to
speak. He begins cautiously: “We all
have different issues, but we support
each other. If Teamwork didn’t exist,
we’d all be lost.” The four men around
him nod and one with long hair chips
in: “As soon as these guys turn up, my
life turns around. It’s like a family.”
There is more nodding. More chatter.
Suddenly the man on my right speaks
up: “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for
Teamwork Trust.” A Mexican wave of
agreement cascades through the room,
and I am struck that in this walled-off
corner of an old warehouse, in the
company of this supportive network,
I can see the glimmer of a future for
“suicide town”. If only everyone could
get a bit more help to access it.
As my train leaves Corby station, I
am both relieved and saddened to be
going home. Absent-mindedly, I open *BBC.CO.UK.†MENTALHEALTH.ORG.UK.‡THEGUARDIAN.COM. **THEGUARDIAN.COM. ††BBC.CO.UK. ‡‡MENTALHEALTH.ORG.UK.HAIR AND MAKE-UP CHARLOTTE GASKELL AT LHA REPRESENTS, USING MAC AND AVEDA