Why is Mental Health Support for Limb Difference Still an "Optional Extra"?

When it comes to limb loss and limb difference, the world usually focuses on the physical; the prosthetics, the surgery, and the "recovery." But what happens beyond the physical care and when support stops?In this episode, host Megan Bacon-Evans is joined by a powerhouse panel, including Marie Tidball MP and young adults from the community, to discuss the "hidden side" of limb difference: mental health.Together they talk about the "dual reality" of living with a limb difference, where fierce pride and daily struggle coexist, and why the healthcare system must stop treating mental wellbeing as an "optional extra."YOU MAY FIND SOME OF THE CONTENT IN THE PODCAST UPSETTING OR TRIGGERINGWhat We DiscussThe Identity Shift: Self-acceptance is key, but that takes work and support which can be hard to findThe Power of "And": Understanding how you can love your "little hand" and still have days where the world feels heavy.The Systemic Gap: Why people with a limb difference face anxiety/depression, yet support remains inconsistent across services.People as Medicine: How finding a community that understands your lived experience is more transformative than any clinical appointment.Dismantling Ableism: Challenging the outdated societal views that hold people back more than their physical differences ever could.GuestsMegan Bacon-Evans (Host)Marie Tidball MP, Connor Ballard, Ella Dickinson, Leah Hardy, Scarlett Walker, Walid Saleh, and Jesse Velosa.With thanks to the National Lottery Community Fund for supporting the development of the Offhand PodcastSUPPORT LINKS:https://www.mind.org.ukhttps://www.youngminds.org.ukhttps://www.reach.org.uk/https://findingyourfeet.net/https://www.limbpower.com/https://steelbone.co.uk/https://amputationfoundation.org/https://www.blesma.org/