“Mental health struggles are a part of the world we live in everywhere and all the time,” Nat de nat is what i think, content creator, musician, and cooking champion in isolation, tells SBS. “So the idea of not talking about our mental health with each other seems like such a heartbreaking shame.”
that’s why he Youtube Sensation wants people to eat good food with people they trust and talk about their mental health: the good, the normal, and the bad.
To show he’s serious about encouraging people to open up, Nat sits around the SBS Food table for an honest conversation of his own.
You are a mental health ambassador promoting messages of hope for people struggling with mental health issues. What have your experiences of anxiety and depression meant to you now?
Nathan: Anxiety, for me, is sometimes a seemingly endless constant war in my head. Depression is their shit buddy who keeps showing up at the party uninvited, but for some reason, I keep letting them in. It’s hard to stay on top of all the things that trigger it, but I try to set boundaries around those things as best I can. Can I.
I have struggled with these issues for as long as I can remember. Some [days] are better and some days are worse.
“Many times I can give the impression that I am doing very well or well. But the truth is that every day, this morning, yesterday and the days before, I woke up with my sanity staring at me.”
I’ve always been someone who tries to make people laugh. Many times I can give the impression that I am doing very well or well. But the truth is that every day, this morning, yesterday and the days before, I woke up with my mental health staring at me.
I have been diagnosed with many things over the years. The most constant are Generalized Anxiety Disorder and episodes of severe depression. They’re still going to be a challenge for a while, but you better believe I won’t give up. I want to encourage people to do the same and stick with it.
If mental wellness were a person, how would you describe your relationship with it today?
Nathan: Mental wellness would be someone I admire but don’t know that well. They keep going on vacation and it’s pretty hard to catch up with them. But I know that one day they will get together to hang out.
We just need to get to know each other better so we can target a more solid wait time.
How can meeting others for a meal benefit our mental health?
Nathan: It’s the simplest things that sometimes make the world seem a little less harsh. Food is something that doesn’t ask much of you. Mostly, he’s just there to help you and maybe even give you a reason to feel good for a minute.
The feeling of not being alone is a great comfort when poor mental health makes you feel deeply alone, without a friend by your side. Getting together with the people you care about for a feed has a great history of being a great idea in any kind of weather.
Whether you’re cooking a meal or just sitting down to be with people who care about you, it’s always a good idea. I consider that it is an activity that should be in high rotation in the self-care repertoire.
“Whether it’s cooking a meal or just sitting down to be with people who care about you, it’s always a good idea. I think it’s an activity that should be in high rotation in the personal care repertoire.”
Can you share a first-hand experience of a time when eating stimulated conversation and improved your own feelings of mental well-being?
Nathan: Food and cooking give me something simple that matters to me. I can also share it with the people I care about without having to say anything. That is something quite special.
One of the most recent stories I have is about when I got a call from someone I’m a huge fan of – actually another YouTube creator. They knew about my mental health issues and shared a little bit about what they are going through with me.
the [personal] the things they shared resonated with me in a profound way. I think I even cried a little on the phone. Then they invited me to meet them in person and take a walk in the bush with them. They prepared me a sandwich that they had made.
We stopped by the water and sat on a rock. We ate sandwiches and shot shit. It was so charming, so simple, and so helpful even though I had only just met them.
This may not be the highest octane thriller of a story but, at the time, I was having a really rough time and that [experience] it was exactly what i needed. They, neither the walk nor the sandwich asked me for anything more than to be part of a moment: the time spent with a turkey sandwich and the conversation that accompanied it are not things that I will soon forget.
What is your main message for the people reading this article who are struggling with their own mental health issues?
Nathan: Hang in there, do what you can today to try and take care of yourself. Tell a friend or someone you love how you’re doing, and if you’re willing, check in with them too. Be kind to that beautiful, complex heart of yours, and most of all, remember: you’re a fucking champion!
For more information on Beyond Blue’s ‘Big Blue Table’ event, visit bigbluetable.com.au. If you or someone you know needs help, please contact beyond the blue at 1300 225 636, Life line on 13 11 14 or Helpline for children 1800 55 1800.
Do you love history? Follow the author here: Instagram @yasmin_noone.
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