Mental Health Awareness Week 2025: Meg

Harrods: What’s your main motivation now to prioritise your wellbeing and keep those routines going?
Meg: A big part of it is knowing that it doesn’t just affect me. It impacts the people I care about. I have a partner, a dog, and I’ve seen how my energy affects them. When I’m not taking care of myself, I’m not easy to be around. I become snappy, shut myself off, and struggle to see things in a positive light. That fogginess is tough.

So now, I try to keep things in balance. Not perfectly, but in a way that ensures I’m doing things that help me feel good and grounded. I’ve seen the consequences when I don’t, and I don’t want to go back to that.

Harrods: You seem to have such strong self-awareness. Where do you think that comes from?
Meg: People tell me that a lot! I think it’s because I went through a lot at a young age. I had to grow up quickly. Not just for me, but also because I had a younger brother, and in a small town, people talk. There was pressure to keep it together and just get on with things.

Harrods: Do you think community plays a role in mental wellbeing?
Meg: Absolutely. For me, it’s about having something constant. It could be a friend, a family member, or even a pet. Knowing something or someone is always there, waiting for you, really helps. It’s made a huge difference in how I view day-to-day life.

Harrods: How has community played a role in your journey?
Meg: At first, I didn’t want help. I pushed people away because I didn’t think I deserved it. But over time, I realised how much my parents had done for me. Never forcing anything, just being there. My partner is incredibly patient, and my friends have been amazing.

I was the first in my group to be diagnosed, which felt isolating. But it actually helped others open up. One of my friends sought help because she saw me go through it. I became a support person for her, and that mutual trust and honesty became really important.

Harrods: Are there any routines or rituals that help you stay connected?
Meg: Yes! My friends and I do something called Waffle Wednesdays. We send voice notes to each other once a week, just checking in. There’s no pressure to reply immediately; you listen when you can. One of my friends lives in Spain and is about to move to Japan, so it helps keep us close even across time zones. I really look forward to it every week.

Harrods: Finally, if you could say something to your 16-year-old self, what would it be?
Meg: I’d tell her: “There’s so much more to life than what’s happening right now.” At 16, I had just been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and I felt like I’d lost everything. But I’d tell her those 20 minutes in the GP’s office don’t define you. Yes, they shape you, but they don’t own you.

Now, ten years later, I’m confident, calm, and genuinely happy. That diagnosis is just a part of my story. It doesn’t control me. I’d remind her that she’s not alone, she’s loved, and one day, everything will be okay.

Harrods: Thank you for sharing so openly, Meg.
Meg: Thank you for giving me the space to talk about it.