Oldham medic: lack of mental health care is making poorly patients worse

People with lifelong and even terminal conditions could be spiralling into even worse health - because nobody is there to listen to them.

That is the view of Oldham medic Dr Anita Sharma, who is using the Time to Talk campaign to encourage everyone to do more to connect with those who are poorly.

This is because the women’s health expert believes that physical and mental health are intrinsically linked - and that unchecked anxiety and depression can shorten lives.

“Outside of what resource the NHS community teams, and our dwindling good causes can offer, those with conditions such as cancer have no one to share their concerns with,” said Dr Sharma.

“Families are much more scattered, and people have to contend with busy lives.

"What I am asking is that we establish a national mental health first aid kit, so that volunteers are able to offer support and ease the physical and mental pain of serious illness.”

Dr Sharma used endometriosis as an example of how the mind can exacerbate the body’s decline.

Affecting one in ten women of childbearing age, the debilitating gynaecological pain is often accompanied by a dangerous decline in wellbeing, leading to half of sufferers having “dark thoughts”.

This whole process is made even worse by the fact that patients are sometimes not believed by their peers - and even medics.

Lynn (not her real name) is an example of an endometriosis warrior for whom living with the condition has meant a life-long story of secrecy and sometimes shame.

A successful businesswoman, she said: “Such is the stigma and ignorance around endo, I felt talking about publicly would label me as a weak complainer, especially by men.

"I have a small family living a long way off and have encountered doctors who have just dismissed my symptoms as back ache or period pain.

"Since I have revealed my condition to some, the response has been encouraging though.

"They tell me I am brave and a hero which I am not! I just want people to understand and listen to people like me.” 

So concerned was Dr Sharma about the physical and mental health of those with endometriosis - and their families - she formed the Oldham-based charity, Endometriosis Awareness North.

“I think outside of the United States and a handful of other countries, the world is finally gaining a basic grasp of mental health,” she continued.

“But following COVID it was at crisis levels and, for example, the number of young men still committing suicide is so disturbing.

"What we fail to do is recognise that serious physical illness can result in shattered confidence, an anxiety around rejoining our usual life, and the worry that symptoms are not being understood and may return.

"I am certain that friends, neighbours, employers want to help but need the knowledge and wherewithal to do so.

"Let us have a Mental Health First Aid pack so that we can all Take the Time to talk and more importantly, listen.”       

Learn more about Endometriosis Awareness North by clicking here

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.