Mental health: it’s good to talk
JOHN SARGEANT, the chairman of Community Pharmacy Derbyshire, discusses mental health
IN my experience, nobody minds talking about aches and pains. Much less common are conversations about mental health.
According to Mind, the mental health charity, one in four people will experience a mental health problem each year. So, why don’t we to want talk about mental health?
Reasons might include feelings of embarrassment or shame, a fear of what other people might think: that it could be seen as weakness or failure. Unfortunately, there’s still stigma.
It is possible to classify more than 300 mental health conditions. The most common problem is that of depression. In the UK 17.8% of the population show evidence of depression or anxiety, and major depression affects 2% of men and 3% of women. What are the reasons for feeling this way? Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer. Life events, physical illness, alcohol and drug use, giving birth can all have an impact, as well as personality and genetics, loneliness and exclusion.
“One You” is a Public Health England initiative designed to help make small changes that fit your life, so you feel better and healthier, every day.
Last month it launched a pilot campaign in the Midlands: “Every Mind Matters”. The website is worth a look as there are things we can do to look after our wellbeing. There’s expert advice, practical tips – and you can develop a personalised action plan.
Evidence suggests there are five steps that can be incorporated into our day-to-day lives that can help us make positive changes that will improve our mental health and wellbeing:
Connect: talk and listen, be there, spend time on relationships, and feel connected to others
Be active: do what you can, enjoy what you do and improve your mood
Take notice: find the simple things that give you pleasure and savour the moment
Keep learning: try something new or rediscover an old interest you used to enjoy
Give: share and show an interest in others, by helping others you will feel better in yourself and they will benefit from feeling valued as well Try the above and see how you get on. But, if you don’t feel that problems with your mental health are going away and are affecting your daily life, or causing you distress, talk to someone about it.
You can call NHS 111 or speak to your GP for advice and support. It’s better to take action early than wait until you feel overwhelmed.
If your doctor believes you need medication, then make sure you talk to your pharmacist when you pick up your prescription. They will help you understand how the medicine works.
If you are feeling anxious, allaying concerns about taking your meds will help you on the road to recovery.
But remember you are not alone; don’t be afraid to talk to someone about how you are feeling – 16 million people in England are diagnosed with a long-term physical condition, and one in three of those will also experience a mental health issue. So, when somebody is talking about their physical health it may not be the whole story…