What is Mental Health?
Everybody in the world has mental health… including you, your friends and all those close to you. It’s vital we take good care of our mental health to control how we think, feel and behave.
An individual’s mental health is just as important as being healthy physically, a problem with your psychological and emotional well-being can often make you feel as bad as a physical illness. The only problem is, you can’t always see it.
Mental health affects around one in four people in britain, ranging from common psychological problems such as depression and anxiety to rarer cases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
There are mild and severe cases of all mental health problems, and it’s important to understand that despite facing these challenges, it’s completely possible to recover from mental illness and live a fulfilling life.
What is World Mental Health Day?
World Mental Health Day was first launched by the World Federation of Mental Health in 1992 to increase global education and awareness of mental health.
World Mental Health Day celebrates awareness for mental health across the global community in a way that is empathetic with a unifying voice. This helps anyone suffering from mental illness feel hopeful by empowering them to take action and create positive lasting change.
The theme of World Mental Health Day changes annually in order to address specific problems within the mental health community. Examples from the previous three years include ‘young people and mental health in a changing world’, ‘Mental health in the workplace’ and ‘psychological first aid’.
World Mental Health Day 2019
Although it has been a priority for a number of years, World Mental Health Day 2019 focuses on suicide prevention. According to the WHO, more than 800,000 people die globally by suicide per year, which highlights the fact more must be done to reduce this figure.
Suicide is a significant social issue in the UK, as around 16 people take their own life every single day – the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45. Every suicide is a serious tragedy that has long lasting effects on the people left behind, this impacts not only close family and friends but entire communities.
The number one priority is to help those in need, a way in which we can do this is by raising awareness on the topic. There are a number of complex factors that contribute to suicide, but most importantly, our efforts must be geared toward prevention. World Mental Health Day 2019 aims to attract the attention of governments so that the issue is given priority in public health agendas across the globe.
How Can You Help?
You can help by looking out for those who surround you. If you know someone is struggling emotionally or having a difficult time, there may be much more going on beneath the surface than you realise. Sometimes it is obvious when people are having a hard time, but there is never a simple way of knowing if they could be suffering from a mental health problem.
You can be the difference in getting them the help they need, whether someone is struggling from mild depression, or someone is at the risk of suicide. You can help.
‘A shoulder to cry on’ can greatly help someone pull themselves out of a rut, as they say, a problem shared is a problem halved. Sensitively communicate with anyone who is potentially facing mental illness to show them you care. Reading up on the signs of mental health problems can help you identify if someone close to you is facing mental illness symptoms.
Sources of Help
If you or someone close to you really needs help beyond human connection, there are many different sources of help. Here are some in the UK. The websites can be used to find important information, and if you feel like you need to talk to someone, the helplines are open at the following times:
Samaritans – 116 123 (24 hours per day/free to call) | Website: www.samaritans.org
Mind Infoline – 0300 123 3393 (9am-6am Mon-Fri) | Website: www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines
Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line – 0300 5000 927 (9:30am – 4pm Mon-Fri) | Website: www.rethink.org/about-us/our-mental-health-advice
Saneline – 0300 304 7000 (4:30pm – 10:30pm) | Website: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/helpline
Alternatively, if this is a serious case, you should book to see a GP or mental health specialist to figure out the best next step for the road to recovery. If this is someone close to you, then encourage them to do the same to ensure they’re getting all the help they need.
Trinity Care
We want to be there to help people in any way we can. Trinity HomeCare have many years experience acting as a source of help for those suffering from mental illness. A common side effect from the elements of care we offer such as Dementia and Parkinson’s disease is depression and a decrease in mental health. We have played the part of a helping hand, so we know how valuable this can be.
Trinity place great focus on raising awareness surrounding mental health in the workplace – as we want to be there for our staff so they can be there for you. Our team has created an inclusive and supportive environment by creating greater awareness surrounding mental health and the stigmas associated with it.
We are a proud partner of time to change, an upstanding organisation that aims to end mental health discrimination. A huge part of our training framework for both current and new staff surrounds increased awareness and education on mental health. This helps us identify coping strategies that help us grow healthily and happily, together.
We have been there for many people in the past and present, and we will continue to do so in the future. That’s why we know it is entirely possible to overcome mental illness, conquer your demons and live a healthy and enriched lifestyle. If you’re struggling, it’s important to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Take action today for a better tomorrow.
