Raising Mental Health Awareness

Monday 10th October is World Mental Health Day. However, as good as special days to help raise awareness are, everyone’s mental health is as important as the next person, and we all need to do more to consider how those around us might be coping on any given day. A smile or a laugh doesn’t always mean all is well.

It’s reported that in England, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year and 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem such as anxiety or depression in any given week.

This year, World Mental Health Day is focusing on ‘Make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority’. The aim is to encourage inclusivity across the globe and spread awareness about the cause. World Mental Health Day provides the opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to make the world a better place, inviting you to organise an event(s) in your schools, colleges, residential complexes or at your workplace and directly involve yourself in the furtherance of the cause.

Whether it’s you that’s directly affected or someone you know, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

If you want to reach out for help, here are a few helpful links to a number of different charities and helplines that can provide the support you or someone else might need:

Mind
The mental health charity provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. If you need urgent help, you can contact Mind in a number of different ways.
Find Out More

Samaritans
If you want to talk about anything that is bothering you or upsetting you, you can call Samaritans 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone), email [email protected] or visit a branch in person. You can also call the Samaritans Welsh Language Line on 0808 164 0123 (7 pm–11 pm every day).

CALM
The Campaign Against Living Miserably is leading a movement against suicide. If you identify as male, you can call the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) on 0800 58 58 58 (5 pm-midnight every day) or contact them using their webchat service during the same hours.
Contact CALM

NHS
For more resources or to get help with your mental health, this NHS web page has more helpful resources.
Find Out More

For more information about the World Federation for Mental Health visit their website.