National media self harm interview

[when.will.it.end]

I used to do a lot of media work for this charity a few years back, representing them on self harm. I got a call today from the charity asking if I would be willing do a live national television interview next week (I wont say what program its for). I don't know the details of the interview yet but I think it'll be about 10 minutes long, in London and on self harm.

Reckon I should do it?

I'm pretty vulnerable at the moment. I'm inpatient and things have been rough for me recently. I don't feel especially nervous about the thought of going live on national television but I'm a bit worried about not doing the thing justice as it's obviously a very sensitive topic and if they asked me what methods of self harm I use I would be embarrassed to say/and also wouldn't want to be triggering.

Thoughts?

[sherlock holmes]

My reaction is that if you're currently IP then no, it's not a good idea. By your own admission you're vulnerable right now. Going on TV live speaking about a sensitive topic will rake up so many emotions and I think you don't need that right now.

[Bellatrix]

^agreed, and from my experience they really push you to get the 'good' interesting stuff. (When I was asked to do an MH article, they keep badgering me for 'thinner' pictures and my worst scars).

Unless it's being done with Mind/a psychiatrist/someone else who can make sure it remains appropriate, I'd stay away

[ajrocks]

I agree with all the above comments my first thought was if you're inpatient then i don't think its a good idea and even if you were feeling ok I think I would be worried they could twist things for t.v etc etc and also being interviewed about it could bring up a whole host of things that may not have come up outside of therapy.
I know you want to do good and help others and that's great but don't do it at the expense of yourself and I think if you have to ask then its most likely because you know it would probably be too much right now and that is nothing to feel bad about I don't think I could do it ever no matter how much I wanted to or how much into recovery I was.
Take care of yourself first and foremost.

[MissAnonymous]

I understand your intentions, but given you're not well I would avoid this. Consider the best promotion of self harm awareness, that of you recovered; look after yourself and aim to do something like this from the point of recovery. xx

[when.will.it.end]

Thanks for the advice.

Just to clarify I would be discharged in time for the interview so I wouldn't be going straight from hospital or anything. Honestly, I really want to do it and annoyingly I have to make a decision today. I'm still not sure. I understand what you're saying but I feel strong enough to do it. Maybe it's still not a good idea though.

[CagedBird]

It's your decision at the end of the day. There are likely lots of personal reasons why you should and should not do it. If I were you, considering you have been having a difficult time for quite a while now, I would focus your limited energies on feeling better about yourself and continuing with therapy. Even though you will be discharged from inpatient at that point, you aren't necessarily able to be assured of your mental state. Looking into the future, when your family or employers will be able to find these types of interviews, you may wish to ensure you are in the best possible mental health to offer a good interview. If you are distressed, I can't see how this is possible.

From a personal point of view, if I were to see an article/interview with someone who is currently going through a cycle of crisis and inpatient admissions for being suicidal, this wouldn't represent my experience of self harm. I feel often there are too many extremes portrayed and that suicide and self harm are happily mixed together by misinformed interviewers...whether that is due to the media wishing to play on the drama of it all I'd not considered before. All I know is that I'd prefer to watch an interview with someone who is currently self harming but in employment or university or parenting, so self harm is seen to be just an element of their whole life...in order to demonstrate self harm is a coping technique NOT an indication of a mental illness....or with an individual who has 'recovered' and able to reflect on their self harming behaviour.

This is my two cents. Take what you want and leave the rest.

[random.swirls]

This is probably to late but I'd talk to the charity about it. I think if your inpatient currently it's probably not wise but if you've worked with them before they should know you. I also think you should talk to someone on your ward and see what they think about it xox

[when.will.it.end]

I see what you are saying but I'm still not sure. I am at uni, or will be in a couple of weeks and have healthy relationships etc. I certainly wouldn't want to be a bad example to other people so perhaps I'm not in the best place to be advocating for recovery right now. Although I still hold strong values regarding recovery and obviously would be pro self harm on national television. I just feel like it would be nice thing for me to do when things have been so **** recently.

*EDIT* we posted at the same time random swirls (sorry I can't remember your name). I will talk to the charity about it tomorrow, they were supposed to get back to me today but didn't. I've to staff on the ward about it and they've basically said it's up to me but to be aware of the stress it would cause.

[when.will.it.end]

On everyone's advice I've decided to not to do the interview.