I'm not interested in TV programmes about celebrities, so they are getting married, having babies, spending money, flaunting themselves, so what.
What I like programmes about REAL people and you couldn't get more real and more raw than the young women on 'Don't Call Me Crazy' on BBC Three last night which launched the channel's 'It's A Mad World' series of programmes looking at mental health issues affecting young people in Britain today.
The programme told the story of a few of the young women in Manchester's McGuinness Unit, where clearly dedicated staff worked hard to try and support them on the path of getting back into the world again.
But their job is not easy because in spite of the fact that the women featured were articulate, insightful and beautiful, and sometimes comic and fun loving too, they are plagued by demons of depression, self harm, suicidal thoughts/attempts and eating disorders.
I couldn't help wondering what has to happen to make a child grow into a young person with such huge issues to contend with but young people today do have so much pressure and so much to contend with, in an increasingly difficult world to live in because of financial, housing and employment worries.
The honesty and courage those young women had to share their
experiences with viewers was astonding and I hope that at the very least
they've gained something positive, for themselves, from being part of the programme.
