Monday, 9 October 2017

World Mental Health Day

Tuesday 10th October is World Mental Health Day, giving us all a great opportunity to show our support for better mental health care and awareness. World Mental Health Day, which this year has the theme of workplace wellbeing, is such an important event- mental health problems can affect anyone at any time in their life, and so I would encourage everyone to use this World Mental Health Day as an opportunity to learn as much as possible about mental health, while also increasing awareness and taking a stand against negative mental health stereotypes and language. The YMCA and the NHS will be relaunching their #IAMWHOLE campaign for this very purpose, with the aim of encouraging others to talk about their mental health difficulties, while Young Minds, the UK's leading charity championing the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, are asking people to wear yellow and tweet their support at #HelloYellow on Tuesday to show young people that they're not alone when it comes to their mental health. With recent research showing that almost a quarter of girls and one in ten boys report symptoms of depression at the age of 14, this is a fantastic cause, and it would be great if you could support them too!

Last week the Prime Minister also announced plans for an independent review of mental health legislation and practice to tackle the issue of mental health detention, and I thoroughly welcome this announcement. 

There are so many important campaigns and groups who will be raising awareness of mental health problems on World Mental Health Day this Tuesday- do get involved! 

https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-review-to-tackle-detention-of-those-with-mental-ill-health