Harris’ story

As part of our #SocialWorkMatters campaign, Harris shares how he worked with a mental health social worker after attempting suicide.

“I’m British Pakistani Muslim gay man which was a complicated identity to have when I was growing up.  I was being bullied and had severe anxiety and depression, eventually ending up in a psychiatric hospital after an attempted suicide.

Working with a social worker really helped me.  Unlike a doctor or nurse who looks at your symptoms and treatment for them, they look at your whole life.

A social worker will ask: have you got food and warmth, is your accommodation okay, are you sleeping well, and could you get more support or benefits?

Social workers can really help you to navigate through systems and services that you need but aren’t even aware of. They can also help you to accept who you are.

Embracing my sexuality

Working with a social worker really helped me.  Unlike a doctor or nurse who looks at your symptoms and treatment for them, they look at your whole life.

I had a social worker when I was a teenager. She helped me change schools to one that was more supportive, helped me understand the importance of taking my medicine.

But one thing I will never forget is that one day she kindly said, ‘Oh by the way, some people are gay and that’s okay’.

I hadn’t come out at that time and I’ve had to work hard to accept my sexuality.

I gradually realised, you can either fight it or embrace it, and that I could be a better person by being honest about who I was rather than denying or trying to be someone I’m not.

Making things fairer

I do still suffer with anxiety and depression, but the good thing is I know the early signs now.  I try to look for the okays in the not okays and I’m learning to say no.

I came across a term that really helped me.  I was in Holland and saw this big graffiti – the message is everywhere now but it wasn’t then – and it said: ‘It’s okay to not be okay.’  And that was a big turning point for me.

Social work is about making things fairer for people. They make a huge difference to people’s lives, supporting us to live better more independent lives but we need more of them.”

Harris’ story is part of our #SocialWorkMatters campaign – advocating for everyone with severe mental illness to have access to a mental health social worker.