Recently Dr Melanie Limb has given a presentation at a number of University conferences and meetings about wellbeing and mental health.
Called ‘One in Four’, the presentation referred to the recent NHS Task ForceReport (Feb 2016) indicating that One in
Four of the people surveyed had suffered mental illness in the last year. Of those who suffered 75% received no support
and those with serious problems could expect to live 15 to 20 years less than
those without the illness. The same
study showed that 19% of those surveyed believed that one of the main causes of
mental illness was a lack of self-discipline and will-power. Melanie used two poems she had written about
depression to give some insight into what depression is like. She drew on a strand of academic research
leading from the ‘emotional turn’ in Geography that recognises the value of
non-traditional methods of writing to the academy. Melanie pointed to evidence that the Academy
suffers from a lack of communication about mental illness and an atmosphere of
non-disclosure (see Horton and Tucker, 2014) and ‘suffering in silence’. By talking to people about her poetry,
Melanie finds that people sometimes overcome their reticence and find ways to
make connections that can support them better when the condition is at its
worst.
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| Dr Melanie Limb |
Dr Melanie Limb also gave a poetry reading at the Story Tellers Event held at the University in March. The event provided an opportunity for
members of staff to read their own original work. Melanie has performed at a number of Open
Microphone events in and around Northamptonshire, with the purpose of raising
awareness of the devastating effects of depression and anxiety, while
challenging stereotypes of, and prejudice against, those who suffer.
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