This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week 2023. The official theme this year is Anxiety, and as one of the most common mental health problems we can face, it’s very fitting. Anxiety can be a normal emotion in the right circumstances, but sometimes it can get out of control and turn into a mental health problem. By raising awareness on the subject, we can promote support information and resources that can help to prevent it becoming a problem whilst also reducing the stigma that surrounding sufferers.
Anxiety disorders affect 8 million people in the UK (1 in 10 people) and that’s just those who have been diagnosed. Many are often suffering in silence and dismissed as ‘just worrying’ or ‘overthinking’. Research from the Mental Health Foundation found that 60% of UK adults experienced feelings of anxiety that interfered with their lives in the last two weeks. Minimising the effect of anxiety can be detrimental to someone’s mental health and only increase the impact it holds on their day to day life. There is an array of different types of anxiety disorders and by increasing our knowledge on them we can begin to understand the complexities surrounding each one and how we can help someone who is struggling. From anxiety over a phone call to paying for bills or not being able to leave the house, everyone deserves to receive the right help and support for any issues they face.
Lingwood Security work closely with Network Rail and the British Transport Police. Our Security Officers work 24/7 to ensure the public is safe whilst travelling, our team have experience in speaking to vulnerable individuals and recognise and respond appropriately to anyone who might be having suicidal thoughts. This is taught through their Samaritan’s Training, they learn listening skills that underpin Samaritan’s services and how to resolve situations safely and refer a person to friends, family, the British Transport Police or Samaritan’s for further training.
Good mental health is essential to health and wellbeing, allowing us to better cope with everyday stressors. By prioritising our mental health, we are improving our quality of life. The attention this week brings to the sector is vital to shining a light on the need for improved mental health resources and services, including research, education and treatment. Join us in raising awareness on the importance of mental health and get a conversation started, it could be as simple as sending a text!
Cost of Living Crisis
For many of us, looking after our mental health is often last on the list, particularly with the ever present cost of living crisis. It has been reported that 1 in 3 adults have had anxiety over paying their bills. This reflects the ever rising importance of bringing awareness to mental health and the importance this week holds.
As a nation, we can’t afford to ignore the impact this has had on our mental health, which may already be turbulent. There are many resources available online to help you with problems you may be having with finances. Please check out the link below for in depth help and advice:
https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/mental-health-awareness-week
Checking In With Yourself
In the age we live in, with constant notifications and updates, we can often get so caught up in the world around us that we forget to make time for ourselves. It’s important to check in with yourself every now and then to assess the status of your mental health. Regularly checking in is key to ensuring you have and maintain good mental health.
There are many tips and advice on how to look after your mental health out there, from simple 5 minute self-care practices like texting a friend to longer practices like keeping active. By creating time in your daily routine to facilitate these, you will begin to see the positive impact it has.
For more tips and advice on mental health practices to implement in your day-to-day life please see the links below:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/wellbeing/wellbeing
Starting a Conversation
By focusing on our own mental health and wellbeing, we become better equipped to help and assist those around us. It can be difficult to first approach the subject, but by starting the conversation you may encourage someone who is struggling to speak up or reach out for support.
Talking about our own struggles can take a weight of ourselves and also comfort others in knowing they are not alone in their experiences. This helps reduce stigma around mental illness and brings to light the fact that everyone will experience some sort of mental health problem during their lifetime, and they should not feel embarrassed or ashamed to speak up and reach out for help.
If someone needs expert help or more support than you can offer, please contact experts for further help. Please see the link below for a range of support contacts:
A Better Future
Mental Health Awareness Week encourages everyone to share and connect on the shared topic of their own mental health and the struggles they have faced. We will all experience good and bad days with our mental health and no matter the severity, we all deserve to be listened to and supported, whether by family and friends or by professionals. Mental health problems don’t discriminate. By shining a light on the number of people affected and the support systems out there, we are able to better understand each other and build a greater, more compassionate society.
We hope that this week has helped you to broaden your knowledge on the subject of mental health, in particular anxiety, and encouraged you to do some of your own research into the topic. By coming together in support of this week, we hope that we have had an impact on the way you view mental health and have helped to create valuable change.
If you or someone you know need help, please see the link below for a range of useful contacts: