The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10th October every year. This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is suicide prevention.

We all have challenging periods when life gets on top of us, whether it’s personal or work-related the chances are that it will have an effect on our mental health. In light of World Mental Health Day our Account Director, Richard is sharing his story:

“It would never happen to ME!”

“I’m too strong and confident to EVER feel like that!”

“Why do other people feel like that and I don’t, what’s wrong with THEM!”

Those were the things I used to say to myself until recently when I finally realised I had mental health issues and was drowning in my own thoughts! It took a very long time to realise that I was struggling with anxiety, a condition that meant I was overthinking everything, I was worried what people would say or think about me and I would put things off at home and in work. It took a lot for me to say STOP, put my hand up and ask for help but all the physical signs were there including feeling tired all the time, not sleeping properly, over-eating and drinking too much!

This World Mental Health Day we recognise that we’ve come a long way in a short amount of time through social awareness, support and diagnosis but have so much more to do on this never-ending journey. With suicide rates in young men still on the rise and the pressures of modern life through Social Media and ever-more dependable technologies growing, our future generation needs to be able to recognise the signs of mental health and try to alleviate the causes of it in our Society.

The profile of mental health keeps growing every day with even Ant & Dec stopping Britain’s Got Talent-The Champions LIVE final on Saturday night to raise awareness of ITV’s ‘Britain Get Talking’ campaign with millions watching at home and following Ant’s recent personal struggles.

Also this week the ‘royal fab four,’ William, Kate, Harry & Meghan publicly backed ‘Every Mind Matters’ a Mental Health Action Plan launched by Public Health England. The ‘Mind Plan’ accessible through www.nhs.co.uk is designed to help young people look after their mental health and includes a five-stage quiz which then automatically generates a ‘personalised mind plan’ with expert advice and practical tips.

Everybody’s struggle is going to be different and we have to be supportive in how we help someone we know or some we don’t know through the noise of mental health recovery. There’s so much help out there that it can be overwhelming just finding a place to start. My road to recovery started with the MIND charity which helped me identify my symptoms and as I found out more and more I realised I could do other things to help improve my mental well-being such as stop smoking and eating healthier.

https://www.mind.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/

I am only at the start of a very long journey and with the help of my family, friends and colleagues I am going to overcome my challenges by talking openly and honestly about the way I feel. If I can do it, and I never felt I would be able to then I am sure YOU can too and remember, the person sitting next to you in work right now or on the train home or in the park this weekend may be suffering with mental health issues too so please be kind, smile and say hello, you may just change their life and yours forever!

Show your support this World Mental Health Day by purchasing your green ribbon pin:  https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/green-ribbon-campaign/buy/green-ribbon-pin-badges