My husband’s ex-partner has taken to name-calling: most recently she called me ‘insane and dangerous’ which is not only factually incorrect but also laughable, considering my reluctance to kill anything, including cockroaches and spiders.

Her rationale is that I once confessed to taking anti-anxiety medication, and therefore I am insane. I’m not exactly sure where dangerous is coming from. Dangerous to snacks? I can murder a wedge of brie, so yeah, I guess she’s right.

My point is this: I am the sanest I have ever been. I walk most days, eat a healthy diet, go to yoga and meditate. I still take Pristiq and I will always rate it as a life-changing drug, but I also take B-vitamins, have a happy marriage and love hanging out with my son (also life changing).

The word crazy gets bandied around a lot which means that many people stay silent about their mental health issues because they don’t want to be labelled ‘crazy’.

And then a lot of those people kill themselves. Suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15–44 in Australia.

The Spark and I used to live next to a woman who would scream a lot. I finally twigged that she was crackers when she was talking about a gold lined casket to protect her from the aliens. That, and she was alone at the time.

She – poor dear – was as crazy as a coconut (who had taken a bad trip in the ’70s).

Feeling down, or hurt, or anxious because of things that have happened or are happening – or even for no reason at all – is not crazy. That, my darling, is called being human.

Taking responsibility for your mental health – and the impact you have on other people – is the kindest and sanest thing you can do.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing mental health issues, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14, beyondblue 1300 224 636 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.