TV star Riley backs call for better mental health awareness

More than 200,000 people have signed a petition calling for mental health to be given as much importance as physical health at work.

The Where’s Your Head At? campaign is demanding better support and awareness in the workplace.

This would include specially trained “mental health first aiders” who would be able to spot early symptoms, know what to say to someone who is struggling and tell them where to get support.

Countdown star Rachel Riley joined campaigners handing the petition in to Downing Street yesterday.

She said that having cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for stage fright while on Strictly Come Dancing made her realise how important mental health issues are.

“Mental health is often overlooked and people aren’t talking about it a lot,” she added. “I think it resonates with everybody, one in two people suffers in some way with mental health problems.

“I had CBT while on Strictly because I had stage fright and it was the first time I thought about mental health and the fact that you can change the way you think and make yourself more comfortable by talking to someone.”

Campaigner Natasha Devon said the mental health first aiders would be trained in what to say and “crucially what not to say to someone who is struggling”.

“It’s about giving that person a little lift,” she added. “Mental health is something that fluctuates throughout a lifetime and with more support it makes people more functional.”

MP Luciana Berger is backing the campaign and will present the petition to Parliament.

Picture: PA. Countdown and Strictly star Rachel Riley joined campaigners to hand in the petition.