Beyond Blue study shows people are waiting up to 10 years to seek mental health help

Cheryl Williams was subjected to unrelenting bullying at the hands of peers. It left her feeling as though she didn’t want to be alive — but it took her years to seek help.

Cheryl Williams was in high school when she began suffering debilitating mental ill health but it took her years to finally seek help.

Her mental health battle began while the now 36-year-old found herself getting admitted to hospital monthly for what was later diagnosed as stage four endometriosis.

The hospital admissions meant Cheryl was missing school frequently and subsequently fell behind.

“Unfortunately … it made me an easy target for unrelenting harassment and bullying by my peers,” the mum-of-two said.

“There was a lot of self blame and anxiety around attending school to avoid bullying.

“My thoughts didn’t really make a lot of sense, they were full of a lot of unhelpful, predictive and catastrophising thoughts, they kind of took over.”

It was during this time Cheryl spiralled into a “dark depression” and began suffering with anxiety.

“I can recall those feeling of withdrawal … not necessarily even wanting to be alive,” the Prospect woman said.

Cheryl Williams with her family, husband Chris and their children Lara and Georgia. Picture: Supplied

Cheryl presenting at a Beyond Blue talk. Picture: Supplied

Cheryl suffered mental health challenges for three years before she decided to seek professional help.

“Being in debilitating pain missing school and the harassment that I incurred from that and not being able to do the things I love, it slowly started to take it’s toll and then present in psychological distress,” Cheryl said.

It was Cheryl’s mum that actually noticed her daughter’s mental health struggles and encouraged her to seek out help.

Cheryl went to her local GP who enacted a mental health plan for her.

Cheryl presenting to Our Lady of The Sacred Heart College at Enfield. Picture: Supplied

But Cheryl wasn’t alone in waiting before seeking help. A Beyond Blue survey found people grappling with high levels of distress and emerging mental health issues waited up to 10 years before they reached out for support.

Surveying more than 5000 people, it found 49 per cent waited until they were “very distressed” or “extremely distressed” before they reached out, compared to 30 per cent who were moderately distressed.

Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said the main reason people don’t seek support is cost and long waitlists, as well as lack of knowledge about mental health and feelings of shame.

“Increasingly, life feels more stressful and unpredictable,” she said.

“People are dealing with compounding and mounting pressures. They’re strung out but muddling through. The pressures people face can often snowball to have a real and negative impact on our mental health and wellbeing.

“This data tells us that people are delaying asking for support or waiting until they are in severe distress. Beyond Blue is working to change this with our free, effective mental health support options.

“It’s never too late and it’s never too early to contact us.”

The release of the survey coincides with World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Originally published as Beyond Blue study shows people are waiting up to 10 years to seek mental health help