Mental Health Awareness Day
08 October 2020
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10th October every year. This year's theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is 'Mental Health for All'.
Being mentally healthy doesn’t just mean that you don’t have a mental health problem. Some people call mental health ‘emotional health’ or ‘well-being’ and it’s just as important as good physical health.
Mental health affects us all. We all have times when we feel down or stressed or frightened. Most of the time those feelings pass, but sometimes they develop into a more serious problem and that could happen to any one of us.
Everyone is different. You may bounce back from a setback while someone else may feel weighed down by it for a long time.
Your mental health doesn’t always stay the same. It can change as circumstances change and as you move through different stages of your life.
The world is experiencing an unprecedented global health emergency due to COVID-19 that has also impacted on the mental health of millions of people. We know that the levels of anxiety, fear, isolation, social distancing and restrictions, uncertainty and emotional distress experienced have become widespread as the world struggles to bring the virus under control and to find solutions.
How common are mental health problems?
Most of us know at least one person who has struggled with a bout of mental illness. In fact, mental illnesses are so common that almost everyone will develop at least one diagnosable mental disorder at some point in their life. Most of these people will never receive treatment, and their relationships, job performance and life satisfaction will likely suffer.
- 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England
- 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (like anxiety and depression) in any given week in England. (https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/statistics-and-facts-about-mental-health/how-common-are-mental-health-problems/)
Seeking Help
Mental health problems range from the worries we all experience as part of everyday life to serious long-term conditions. The majority of people who experience mental health problems can recover or learn to live with them, especially if they get help early on.
If your mental or emotional state is becoming worse or you are worried it could be a problem, know that help is available. We know that talking about mental health can feel awkward for some, but it doesn't have to. You're not alone, talk to someone, sharing a problem is often the first step to recovery. If your employer offers Vivup’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) it is available 24/7, 365 days a year. www.vivup.co.uk
Mental health a reality for all – for everyone, everywhere.