Based on medieval attitudes towards suicide which persisted until recently, using the word 'commit' does nothing to recognise the pain that an individual was going through before they took their own lives. Instead, suicide remains a taboo issue and the connotation of illegality and shamefulness adds to the stigma and grief felt by the deceased's family and friends.

When I told people I was going to go around the country and talk to dozens of people about their depression, the common response was "Oh, that sounds really depressing." But it was actually the opposite. The remarkable courage and creativity that people - dealing with depression and striving to get better - demonstrated, showed me the human spirit at its best.

The charities hope that the awareness campaign will get people talking and help to reduce the stigma attached to self-harming which prevents many young people from seeking help. You can follow the campaign on Twitter via #selfharm and find out more about the campaign on each of the charities websites.

hose who cringe at the S-word I suspect would eventually discover its successor (probably from reading the Daily Mail), and react similarly to the new name. I doubt changing in the terminology would improve their attitudes. Bigots are bigots.

As well as enjoying the games, it's vital we consider the legacy we want them to leave. To me, the ambition should be to make Britain the best place in the world to live if you have a disability, regardless of whether that disability as a result of a mental or a physical condition.

Until now I have been ashamed of and never fully embraced my illness. There has always been a stigma attached to mental health issues and I would only ever share my fears with friends and family.