Of the 20% of us who suffer from mental health issues every year, 65% of us do not seek help.

Some people probably don’t know what’s going on, which can be forgiven. After all, mental illnesses can be insidious.

For the rest of us, there should be no excuses. Least of all, “I was too embarrassed to admit I could have a mental illness. They’re for weak people or losers – not me.”

But that’s not embarrassment.

Embarrassment is doing an all-staff presentation with your fly open. Or waking up with your undies on backwards and no recollection of last night. Or being so absorbed in a book you break wind loudly – while on a peak-hour bus.

That’s embarrassment.

Telling your friend, GP, psychologist or colleague that you’re not feeling crash-hot in your noggin is just common sense. And far less embarrassing that telling someone you have a hangover from hell and your undies on backwards.

For God’s sake, who cares if you have signs of a mental illness? Whether they know it or not, friends, family and colleagues will be grateful you sought help, rather than slid deeply into a full-blown mental illness.

As for the professionals you’ll talk to, they’d think you’re crazy if you didn’t. And so say all of us.

If you’d like some advice on how to talk about your mental health, this is a great place to start: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/how-to-talk-about-your-mental-health-concerns#:~:text=make%20sure%20you%20both%20have,just%20want%20them%20to%20listen.