MENTAL health continues today to be a taboo subject for some – despite affecting so many. One in every 100 people will be diagnosed with bipolar disorder at some point in their life.


Paul Scates is passionately championing change for how mental health is perceived by society. He has shared his inspiring story with the Dorset Echo to show how diagnosis of a mental illness can mean leaving a life of destruction behind – and lead to a discovery of a new way of living.


GROOMED as a child, sexually abused and attempting suicide as a teenager – and battling a bipolar disorder as an adult. 
What didn’t kill Paul Scates made him much stronger – and a fighter campaigning today to help others with mental health illnesses.
Paul, from Dorset, was just eight when he was first abused by a trusted family friend.
Now 36, Paul is a senior peer specialist for Dorset Mental Health Forum based in Dorchester, working alongside Dorset HealthCare. 
He has been on television, radio and in papers across the country raising awareness for mental health and championing change.
In Dorset, Paul helps educate others on mental health and support others needing to talk to someone who knows how it feels to keep your struggle a secret.
He wants others to help discover themselves like he did through his diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Paul said: “I prefer to use the term discovery rather than recovery. Your illness never goes away, but you can discover new ways of living.”
Paul suffered from psychosis, sexual abuse and a life of destructive behaviour as he remained silent about what was going on.
He said: “I hid my mental health from my parents and school, nobody picked up on what was going on. That’s when my journey into self-abuse first started. 
“I found drugs and alcohol and self medicated to deal with it. You will do anything to ease the pain.”
Paul described the pain as excruciating, like having his head ‘in a vice and somebody slowly tightening it every day’. 
Paul said: “I attempted to take my own life.” 
Before he reached adulthood, Paul jumped out of a first floor window. He broke his back, fractured his pelvis and had a long road to recovery ahead. The hardest part he said was being left alone with his own thoughts when he couldn’t move, and trying to knock out the ‘white noise’ in his head.
Once he had physically recovered, Paul began to work on his mental state with cognitive analytical therapy and dialectical behaviour therapy.
Bipolar disorder causes highs and lows, and periods of manic and depressive states. It can be caused by anything; from childhood trauma, stress, or be genetic. 
One in every 100 adults are diagnosed with the condition at some point in their life.
Today, Paul manages his health and any distressing thoughts through coping mechanisms. 
Paul said: “I have been really well for three years now and don’t do the destructive behaviour.”
He exercises and practices mindfulness and grounding techniques daily and watches his diet. He finds certain foods and drink can trigger certain reactions and feelings. 
Paul said: “Now I understand it I’m able to help other people, I have the best job in the world. It’s a real privilege to help people.
“We have peer specialists who work with people to make sure everyone is getting care that is meaningful and purposeful to that person.
“Recovery is possible for everyone. I was very lucky to have my parents and partner.”
He said: “Everyone has good and bad days and mine are just magnified one hundred times more. 
“The great thing is that it is manageable. It’s enriched my life.”
Paul helps run recovery education centres and 32 courses across Dorset on anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. 
The courses are run for anyone over the age of 18. 
Paul said: “There’s always areas for improvement but it’s about listening to what people want.
“There is hope for everyone. It’s important to get the message out that life is worth living.”
n Dorset Mental Health Forum in Dorchester is a local peer led charity who work alongside Dorset HealthCare to improve the lives of people with mental illnesses. 
Courses run across Weymouth, Portland, Dorchester and West Dorset.
Visit dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk to find out more about how they can help or connect with Paul on twitter at @PaulScates.