A MAN who has battled a brain tumour which led to him suffering mental health issues is using a national awareness day to encourage others to get the help they need.

Danny Law, from Hove, was eight years old when he developed his first brain tumour and went on to have two major operations.

Although the tumour was benign, Mr Law had to deal with a great deal of pain and stress.

He got the help he needed from the Brighton and Hove Recovery College last year where he took courses to help him manage depression, anxiety and sleeplessness.

He also had a course in mindfulness at the college, which is provided by Southdown Housing Association and the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Law spoke out as part of today’s Time To Talk day, which works to bring people together to get talking and break the silence around mental health problems.

He said: “I was bullied a lot at school, I’ve been attacked. There are some horrible people out there. But for every bad person, there’s a good person.

“I feel a lot more at peace in my life now because the tumour has been removed. I’m not in the same level of pain but there’s still a lot of tension in my head.

“The Recovery College is immensely important in my life.

“The courses and the staff helped me an awful lot. It has enabled me to learn things. I’ve been able to use the tools at home to manage anxiety and to be more positive.

It’s helping my mental and physical health. I have a belief the body and mind work together so if I can do things for my mental health it will help my physical health. Then I can give back to society.”

Head of mental health Martin Dominy said: “One in four people in England experience a mental health problem and most of us will know somebody – a friend, colleague, parent or child – who is battling with a condition.

“We will continue to work with local authorities, NHS trusts and other mental health providers across Sussex to work towards a future where everybody that needs support gets it.

“Taking that first step and talking to somebody about what you’re experiencing can often be the hardest.

“Events such as Time To Talk are great to help get conversations started.”

Time To Talk Day takes place annually on the first Thursday in February and has sparked millions of conversations in schools, homes, workplaces and online since its launch in 2014.

As a result of the day, people have felt able to share their experiences without fear of stigma for the first time.

They have also started helping those around them.