AND FINALLY

If you’re in despair, help is out there

EACH day, it seems, there’s a story about mental health in the newspapers — and I rejoiced recently when the combined efforts of Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ensured their Heads Together campaign made headlines.

Nobody can argue with their assertion that ‘unresolved mental health problems lie at the heart of some of our greatest social challenges’. It’s impossible to write an advice column like this without realising how powerful and destructive such issues can be, even through the generations.

Theresa May has promised that, if re-elected, she’ll start the biggest shake-up of mental health provision for 30 years — implementing new policies designed to end discrimination in mental health treatment, instead of the ‘flawed’ 1983 Mental Health Act.

One plan is especially good: a teacher in every primary and secondary school trained in mental health to identify signs that children are developing anxiety or depression.

What’s more, the excellent Samaritans charity helpline (call free on 116 123, or look up your local office) will be government-funded until 2022. Make sure you keep your promises, Mrs May!

Many of us have known times when we feel we can’t go on. I don’t mean suicidal thoughts, just blank despair. Sometimes such unhappy souls write to someone like me; sometimes (I hope) they ask for counselling through their GP, or privately.

I want to underline the good news that there is help out there, so please seek it out. The internet offers information: enter your problem (what to do if your parents split up, how to make friends etc) in a search engine and you’ll be directed to a useful website.

Lastly, I heartily recommend signing up to the free, independent website welldoing.org. Each week it’s filled with information about mental health and well-being — and (what we all need) a sense of purpose and possibility.

Bel answers readers’ questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, london W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. A pseudonym will be used if you wish. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence.