World Mental Health Day

As today, the 10th of October 2019, is here, I thought it would be a good time to share some personal thoughts on what Mental Health means to me. 

Working in a psychology service who aims to promote equality and opportunity for all really opens ones eyes up to the problems that pretty much everyone could and does face on a daily basis.

How unfair the world can treat people and that for some reason we are meant to just knuckle down with the mantra 'life isn't fair' and go back to our daily lives with a mask on. How is it with the world being so connected that we can all still feel so alone? Maybe it is because of this facade we are expected to put up and an unwillingness to ask for help if we need it.

Well I'm here to say today that it is ok to feel unhappy, confused, hurt, upset, disappointed or how ever you feel. That IS normal! The most important thing to do is to reach out and talk, share how you feel because bottling it up won't make the problems go away. 

No matter who you are, it is ok to feel how ever you feel.

Communication and connections are the things to me that help to make positive mental health. In reality who ever you talk to about how you feel will have felt similar feelings, because everyone does. If you don't feel like you have anyone to talk to, then here are some numbers of people who are there to listen and talk to you. 

The Samaritans on 116 123 (24/7)

 SANEline on 0300 304 7000 (4.30pm–10.30pm every day)

For under 25s - The Mix on 0808 808 4994 (Sunday-Friday 2pm–11pm) 

There are a lot more out there, but there are a few. 

 

Another point I wanted to make about mental health is how I can slowly see how the unnecessary stigma attached to negative mental health is starting to go, people are starting to wake up and see that mental health is just as important as physical health and people shouldn't feel embarrassed about trying to talk about their feelings or what is on their mind.

People are all starting to realise that 'No matter who you are, it is ok to feel how ever you feel' and I for one love that.

 

Ben

 

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