In my head

Very few people like my jokes, but being somewhat perverse in nature I keep telling them. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday I led staff notices. On each occasion I'd start with an On This Day. For example, on the 7th October women were allowed into Oxford, whereas later on in October Charles Macintosh invented the sandwich. That's one of my jokes. In November we have the Sex Pistols playing their first gig, the invention of the toilet, the first Dr Who, Fletcher Christian's inspirational act of rebellion and something about a gay bull called Benjy.

There's a national or international event or issue to celebrate or commemorate on every day, week, month and year. One day, on the occasion of some kind of mental health awareness-raising, I said to the staff team, 'We are all aware, constantly and sometimes painfully, of our pupils' mental health difficulties. But we must also, in caring for others, look after ourselves. And one way we can do that is to break down the taboo of mental health by talking about it, in the way we talk about a broken leg or a headache. For example, I have been diagnosed with depression, and, hopefully, with the support of my family and doctor, I manage it resonably well. If anything, it gives me a valuable insight into the minds of others.'

I probably ruined the impact with a joke at this point. But I handed out a number of posters about looking after one's mental health and thought no more about it.

During the next few days a small number of staff approached me privately to thank me, and in some cases to share their own stories. New connections were made. A small victory for light over darkness.