Mental Health Awareness Week

13th – 19th May 2019

The Mental Health Foundation is a charity specialising in research, with a focus on preventing mental health problems.

Every year the Mental Health Foundation host Mental Health Awareness Week.  This year’s focus is on body image, and how we think and feel about our bodies.

The thoughts and feelings we have about our bodies can affect us throughout our lives, altering the way we feel about ourselves, our mental health and wellbeing.  Although having a negative body image is not a mental health problem, it can be a risk factor and can attribute to mental health problems.  Research has found that higher body dissatisfaction is linked to having a poor quality of life, psychological distress and can be associated with eating disorders.

Body image concerns can arise from many different factors including how we are expected to look, exposure to unrealistic body images in the media, and relationships with family and friends.

#BeBodyKind

Where To Get Help

If you know someone who is showing signs of being affecting by mental health concerns, the following specialists can help:

• Samaritans
• Mind
• Rethink Mental Illness
• Healthy Minds Bury
• Your GP

Samaritans

The Samaritans offer help and support 24 hours a day. They will listen to your concerns so you can unburden yourself.  Chats with the Samaritans are in confidence, non-judgemental, you talk and they listen.

The Samaritans also help provide teaching staff with step by step training to assist students that require support.  If you feel a child requires help, and may find it easier to talk to someone they know, please ask school for assistance.

The service is free and you can ring free on 116 123.

If it’s easier to write down your thoughts and feelings you can email them at jo@samaritans.org (24 hour response time).

Mind

Mind offer an information line which can provide advice on: –

• types of mental health problems
• where to get help
• drug and alternative treatments
• advocacy

Rethink Mental Illness

Rethink is an advice and information helpline.  Their goal is for a better life for anyone affected by mental illness. They can help with: –

• benefits
• debt
• money issues
• police
• court
• prison
• different types of therapy and medication
• your rights under the Mental Health Act

The service is available Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm, and you can contact them on  0300 5000 927 (local rates).

Healthy Minds Bury

Healthy Minds is a service run by professionals, available to anyone over the age of 16 residing in Bury or registered with a GP in Bury.

The service offers support to anyone suffering from:

• difficulty sleeping
• low self worth
• low mood
• stress
• worry
• anxiety
• panic attacks
• long-term health problems/ pain
• OCD
• phobias
• post-natal depression
• eating difficulties
• post traumatic stress

Therapists and counsellors can find a level of treatment that is right for you, or your loved one, whether it be a workshop, telephone conversation or one to one therapy session.

To get help from Healthy Minds Bury, contact your GP or other Healthcare Professional.  Alternatively, you can contact them directly using the online form HERE.

Your GP

Your GP will be able to discuss the various options with you, including the best treatment for you and whether any drug intervention is recommended.

Other Areas of Mental Health

Given that it is the time of year for SATs, GCSEs and A-Levels, it is an important time to keep an eye on our children, and young people.  It is vital to watch out for signs of stress and anxiety as pressures build during this stressful time.

Signs to look out for are: –

• Headaches
• Stomach ache
• Mood swings
• Quietness
• Lack of sleep
• Loss of appetite
• Low mood
• Negative

For helpful hints and tips from a variety of professionals in this field, take a look at our full article on exam stress HERE

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