Sturgeon reveals reading eases her stress
● First Minister urges people to take steps to look after their mental health
Nicola Sturgeon has revealed how she copes with pressure, as she urged people to take steps to look after their mental health.
Marking the start of Mental Health Awareness Week today, the First Minister tackled the campaign’s theme of stress.
In a Sunday newspaper, she wrote: “It’s important we are open about stress and mental health.” She also revealed how she turns to her favoured pastime of reading to unwind from the pressure.
She wrote: “Even if I am only able to take a short time out to read a few pages, reading pro- vides a break from work that allows me to wind down and to immerse myself in different worlds. And taking a break like that means I focus better when I pick up my government papers again or go into a debate.”
She encouraged people to use the awareness week “to look at what it is in their life that makes them feel overwhelmed” and how they manage stress.
She added: “I’m making my own commitment to try to be more active. It’s not always easy for me to do but a walk is a great way not just to keep fit but to get some fresh air and take time out from the daily pressures of life.”
Meanwhile, a Yougov poll commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation to coincide with the launch of Mental Health Awareness week found 74 per cent of adults have in the past year been so stressed they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. The survey also found more than a third of people (35 per cent) had experienced suicidal thoughts or feelings because of stress. One sixth of people (16 per cent) said they had self-harmed as a result of feelings of stress.
Lee Knifton, head of Mental Health Foundation Scotland, said: “Very large numbers of adults in Scotland are experiencing high levels of stress and it is damaging our health.
“Stress is one of the great public health challenges of our time, but it still isn’t being taken as seriously as physical health concerns.
“Stress is a significant factor in mental health problems including anxiety and depression.
“It is also linked to physical health problems like heart disease, problems with our immune system, insomnia and digestive problems.”
Ms Knifton said employers also needed to treat stress and mental health problems as seriously as physical safety.
She added: “We are also asking for well-being days to be provided to public sector workers as part of reducing the pressure on those who work hardest to look after us.”
Mental health groups are being offered financial support with the launch of a new Mental Health Fund of £320,000 made available from the Bank of Scotland Foundation. Groups can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 which will be awarded for one year.
Philip Grant, chairman of the Bank of Scotland Foundation’s board of trustees, said: “Our new fund will vitally allow people across Scotland to benefit from a variety of much-needed local services and personal support.”