Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental health is not talked about enough. Statistics show that mental health issues are much more common that you would think.

1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year

1 in 6 people experience a mental health problem each week

1 in 5 adults have considered taking their own lives

The week commencing 10^th May 2019 is mental health awareness week. The idea is to raise as much awareness of mental health as possible and to get people talking about it. It will also provide an extra source of support for anyone that does have mental health issues and feels alone.

There are a lot of myths and stigmas around mental health issues such as “men won’t suffer from mental health issues” or “young people don’t get mental health issues”.

Statistics show that 1 in 5 women will experience some form of mental health problem compared to 1 in 8 men. It does show that maybe women are more likely to suffer a mental health illness, but men can still be affected. The rates of young people committing suicide or experiencing suicidal thoughts is a lot higher than the adult population.

Depression is the most common of mental health issues with 78.8% of the population suffering from depression at some point in their lives. There is a video that has been produced by the World Health Organisation called “The Black Dog”. This video was made by someone who had suffered from depression to try and explain what it feels like. It provides a really good insight into how someone with depression feels and how they can be helped.

We are lucky in that now there is a lot more conversations and help available for people with mental health issues. This can be accessed via the GP and also on some social media formats. The internet is the key to finding out about mental health and how to support yourself or someone you know through a period of bad mental health.

“Having a mental health problem is like carrying around an extra bag each day, you know its there but nobody wants to help you unload it. People say oh it will get better don’t worry but it doesn’t. Nobody seems to want to know until you reach crisis point and by then it’s too late – your issue has taken over.” – Anonymous

“As a boy its hard to talk about it or to cry. Your meant to be strong and tough but really I felt useless. I kept thinking of what my friends were doping and comparing myself. I didn’t think I would get a wife, I wasn’t going to have children and I wouldn’t ever get a house. It wasn’t until I spoke to my mum and dad I realised there was a way out. I didn’t want to seek GP help but used my family to help me and bring me back to myself again.” – Anonymous 

Let's start talking more openly about mental health and help each other unload those bags and share the burden. Start with mental health awareness week. You don’t have to know someone to show support, you can get involved by buying a green bow pin with proceeds going to a charity for those who may be suffering from a mental health issue, or by holding a fundraiser for a mental health charity, even just taking time to sit with people you know and make sure they are ok.

Here at Emery Johnson Astills we take mental health seriously. We have designated staff that employees can turn to if they feel they need someone to talk to or feel they need some help. Emery Johnson Astills regularly hold events for staff to give them time out and to sit and chat with people to make sure that everyone has time for a break and doesn’t feel alone.