World Mental Health Day 2022
Monday 10th October is World Mental Health Day
The theme this year is ‘make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’
Whilst the pandemic has and continues to take its toll on our mental health the World Health Organisation hopes that this year, World Mental Health day will provide an opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and improve mental health globally.
For World Mental Health Day, we have 3 ways you can help reduce the stigma around mental health.
- Know the facts
Like trying to end any stigma it all starts with knowledge and understanding. There are some great websites out there. Please find some good resources for learning about mental health conditions below:
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/
https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-101
- Choose your words carefully
We all need to be mindful that anyone can have mental health difficulties, no matter how well we think we know them. Even if it is coming from a place of love or wanting to relate to a loved one with a mental health difficulty there are a few phrases that aren’t that helpful for people to hear. For example, “I had a panic attack when I saw my credit card bill”. If you did not literally have a panic attack, then it can make someone feel like you are trivialising their mental health.
3.Talk and listen
According to Mind, 1 in 4 of us have mental health difficulties. If you’re in a place to do so, simply talk to someone else about your experiences and the person you’re talking to might just open up themselves. The best way to end any stigma is to normalise it into our everyday lives.
