Loneliness the theme of annual campaign focused on mental health
Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from May 9 until 15, and wants people to say #IveBeenThere
The aim of Mental Health Awareness Week is to provide the space to have open conversations about mental heath, raise awareness and challenge stigma and discrimination.
This year the theme is loneliness and how this and isolation can impact people’s mental health.
A survey commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation found that one in four of UK adults said they have felt lonely some or all the time over the last month.
The survey included 6,000 UK adults and it also found that more than one third of UK adults said they would never admit to feeling lonely.
West Sussex Mind has been hosting a number of outreach events to help those that may feel isolated and are reluctant to ask for help.
The aim of the events is to increase awareness about the support the mental health charity can offer, build community and mutual support and challenge the stigma that sometimes surrounds mental health.
“We recognise that loneliness affects increasing numbers of people and is a key contributor to poor mental health,” said Katie Glover, CEO of West Sussex Mind.
“This has only been made worse by the Covid pandemic. We want to use Mental Health Awareness Week to bring people together in community events across West Sussex and remind them that we are here to offer support and help them to combat loneliness.”
On Friday, May 13 it is hosting a number of free events involving chats with the West Sussex Mind team.
They will take place from 10am until midday at Billingshurst Library, Mill Lane; 11am until 1pm at Pulborough Library, Brooks Way; 11am until 1pm Storrington Library, Ryecroft Lane; 2pm until 4pm at Henfield Library, Off Hight Street.
Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event, which focuses on helping everyone achieve good mental health.
It has been led and organised by the Mental Health Foundation across the UK for the last 22 years.
Sharing our experiences helps to start conversations with others and break the stigma associated with loneliness and mental health.
This awareness week everyone is invited to share experiences of loneliness using #IveBeenThere.
The charity offers some tips to help you with your mental health: Get closer to nature as it can have a calming effect, learn to understand manage your feelings, talk kindly to yourself and others, talk to someone you trust for support, beware of using drugs and/or alcohol to cope with difficult feelings, try and make the most of money and
We recognise that loneliness affects increasing numbers of people...
KATIE GLOVER CEO of West Sussex Mind