Well, April was a busy month, both good and bad.

It was great to see our local celeb, Danny Beard coming second on CBB – personally I think he was head and shoulders above everyone and should absolutely have won this outright.

Danny of course is a staunch supporter of our trans-siblings and used his very first interview, the moment he was through the door, to support them. This of course brings me onto the other big subject from April – the ruling on trans and sex at birth etc.

I’ve been doing a lot of work with trans women over the past two years, helping them overcome the mental challenges they face when using their newly trained, femme voices. Unsurprisingly, many of them have contacted me since the announcement to express their fears.

As a gay, cis-gender male, I won’t pretend for one minute I can truly know how this makes my trans-siblings feel. However, we can all offer our support and stick together as a community. I always like to think back to the 1980s and 90s, when of course AIDS/HIV was ripping through our communities; I lost many friends at the time. Some of our biggest allies were our lesbian sisters, fighting for research and lobbying our MPs. Why? Well, you’ll have to ask them, but I like to think it was down to the sense of community we need to have to survive what the world throws at us. It may be a soundbite, but we are all genuinely, stronger together. It’s good for our sense of self and our mental well-being.

Just as in the same way gay men were blamed for everything wrong in society in the 1980s, our trans community are copping for the vile rhetoric at the moment. Reach out – offer your support – we are all in this together.

Moving onto this month’s Mental Health topics. Mental health is so misunderstood and carries so much stigma. Much of the stigma is due to misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge. One word which is sure to get people worries is ‘Psycho’ or ‘Psychosis’ to give it its proper name.

Just hearing the word can often conjure up frightening images, often fuelled by sensationalised media portrayals. However, the reality of psychosis is often far removed from these dramatic depictions. It’s crucial to understand that psychosis is primarily characterised by a disconnect from reality, affecting how a person thinks, feels, and perceives the world around them. It’s not about inherent danger towards others.

In simple terms, we can think of psychosis in some ways like being very unwell with a high fever. When someone has a severe temperature, they might say things that don’t make sense, become disoriented, or even hallucinate. Their grip on reality is temporarily altered by their physical illness. Similarly, in psychosis, changes in brain function can lead to a temporary detachment from reality. Postpartum psychosis, which can occur after childbirth, is a specific example where hormonal shifts can contribute to this altered state, much like a physical illness impacting mental clarity.

Schizophrenia is perhaps the most well-known term, but psychotic symptoms can also occur in other illness such as bipolar disorder or severe depression. While the symptoms can be distressing, it’s important to remember that these are signs of an underlying health issue that needs understanding and support, not something to be feared.

I think it’s also important to mention the potential link between cannabis and other drug use, particularly high-potency strains and early or heavy use, and the increased risk of developing psychosis in vulnerable individuals. While cannabis doesn’t cause psychosis in everyone, it can trigger or exacerbate psychotic symptoms in those who may have a predisposition to it. This highlights the importance of being aware of the potential risks, especially for younger people, under 25, whose brains are still developing.

Of course, I never, ever make judgement on drug use, and being from the inner city, being gay, and having been around the block many times, know just how much a part of our culture drugs can play. Whether it is trying to block something out from our past, trying to fit in – or just partaking in the odd chem sesh which turns into a deeper habit, drugs are all around us.

There are of course many sources of help out there if you are worried about your own drug use. One which people tell me is particularly helpful is ‘Talk to Frank’, 24/7 on 0300 123 6600. It is not specifically aimed at our community; however you can call in confidence, without judgement, which is of course the most important thing in my book.

I’ll be back with this column in June, in the meantime, if you’d like to get in touch then please contact me at solutions@martinfurber.com