Johnstone man's dog helps in mental health fight

Nigel Honey, 44, is a volunteer with See Me – a Scottish Government-funded organisation which aims to end the stigma around mental health discrimination.

He was diagnosed with bipolar at a young age but says it is important that people understand different forms of mental health.

Nigel also described how having a canine companion has been a huge help during recent lockdowns.

He told The Gazette: “If you’re stuck in the house and you haven’t got anyone, it can be quite lonely.

“One of the best things I did was get my dog Toby. When you’re depressed, you don’t want to get out of bed but a dog can always motivate you to do things.”

Nigel, who works as a film and TV editor, spoke out to highlight World Mental Health Day, which took place on Sunday.

He hopes his words can tackle the stigma associated with mental health issues and, in particular, encourage other men to talk about how they are feeling.

Nigel is also keen to highlight that there is much more support available now than when he first experienced problems with his mental health.

“There are groups such as Men’s Sheds, where people can do woodwork and have the chance to talk,” he said. “For me, the best way of coping is by talking to other people who have experienced problems.

“Many services have now gone online but a lot of the time you still need that human contact.

“Organisations like See Me are doing a lot to talk about mental health and that’s half the battle.”

A spokesperson for See Me added: “We work with volunteers like Nigel right across the country, all of whom have experience of mental health problems.

“They support us with our work to tackle stigma and discrimination through campaigning, working with schools, employers and healthcare providers.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/seemescotland.

If you need someone to talk to, you can also call Samaritans for free anytime on 116 123.