Millwall Community Trust is supporting World Mental Health Day 2023.

World Mental Health Day (10th October) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through. 

As the theme of World Mental Health Day highlights, ‘mental health is a universal human right’. That’s why at Mental Health Foundation, we’re dedicated to addressing the inequalities in mental health and working towards good mental health for all, not just for some.

Some stats on mental health:

  • It’s 2-3 times more likely for children and adults in the lowest income bracket to develop mental health problems than in the highest.
  • It’s 5 times more likely for asylum seekers to have mental health needs than the general population.
  • 38% of people with severe symptoms of mental health problems also have long-term physical conditions.

Talking is good for your mental health. And talking about mental health is important. But starting a conversation isn’t always easy. 

Whether you’d like to talk to someone about how you’re feeling, or check-in with someone you care about, here are some tips that can help:

Choose someone you trust to talk to:

This might be a friend, family member or a colleague. Or you might be more comfortable talking to someone you don’t know, for example, through a support helpline. It can help to do a pros and cons list about talking to someone.  

Think about the best place to talk:

It’s important to choose a place where you feel comfortable enough to open-up. You might want to choose somewhere private where you’re less likely to be disturbed. You also might want to talk while you do an activity, like walking together.  

Prepare yourself do the reaction:

Hopefully, you will have a good experience when you open-up to someone. But there’s a chance that they may not react in the way you hope. This may be for different reasons, like they may be worried or not fully understand at first.  If that’s the case, try to give them time to process what you’ve told them. It might help to give them information to read to help them understand. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself and practise self-care. 

If you’re talking to someone about their mental health, here are some tips you can follow:

Find a good space to talk without distractions:

If you’re worried about someone, try to find a place where you know you can have a conversation without being distracted. Make sure to give them your full attention. It might help to switch off your phone.  

Listen and ask questions: 

Listening can be one of the most valuable ways to be there for someone. Show them that you’re actively listening by facing them, making eye contact, and not interrupting. Questions can help you clarify what they mean and also show that you’re actively listening. But make sure the questions are relevant to what they’re saying, and not changing the subject.    

Ask how you can help:

Ask how you can help or make suggestions, rather than telling them what to do next. They might want support with making a GP appointment, help around the house, or just for you to keep things normal and chat about what’s going on in your life.

If you are struggling with your mental health and need any help or support, here are some helplines you can contact: 

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/crisis-services/helplines-listening-services/

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-an-urgent-mental-health-helpline

To find out more, visit: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/