MENTAL health problems are much more prevalent than imagined and one in four people will experience such difficulties at some point in our lives.
The statistic has been produced by the Department of Social Care as it launches Mental Health Awareness Week which takes place from August 16th - 20th. The Social Services Mental Health promotion team wants to increase awareness that everybody needs to be concerned about good mental health and well being.
They are launching Mental Health Awareness week to promote some key messages and “myth busters” about mental health and an understanding that:
• Good mental health is more than simply an absence of a mental illness.
• Mental health and well being are fundamental to the quality of life and productivity of individuals, families and communities.
• Good mental health and well being enables people to experience life as meaningful and helps them to survive disappointments and times of difficulty.
• Just like our physical health sometimes our mental health is good and at other times it may be poor but we can recover from illness.
• Many of us will experience difficulties or problems in our lives which have a negative effect on our mental health.
The Department’s Political Member for Social Services Mr Bill Malarkey MHK said, “One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives; therefore there is a good chance that many of us will have encountered a mental health issue, either our own or that of someone we know. Mental Health Awareness week aims to increase our understanding.
“It will highlight some of the ways in which we can promote our mental health and well being and build our resistance to, and our ability to cope with, mental health problems. During this week Julie Bennion, our specialist in Mental Health Promotion and representatives from a variety of our own services and those of our statutory and third sector partners will be providing information and advice.”
The Ambulance and Paramedic Services Promotional Bus will be parked at various locations around the Island between Monday 16th August and Friday 20th August. There will be information, leaflets and tips on various mental health issues such as ways to look after your mental health, how to promote well being for yourself and those around you, identifying and living through mental health problems and how to aid recovery. There will also be information on the wide variety of services on the Island which provide support and advice on mental health.
Director of Social Services Andrew Swithinbank said, “While we provide a wide range of excellent quality care support and treatment services targeted at people facing mental health problems and suffering from mental illnesses, it is equally important to intervene early and try to prevent people from needing these intensive services.
"Therefore I welcome this opportunity to increase the whole populations knowledge of mental health and encourage people to be aware of and look after their own mental as well as physical well being.”
For further information regarding Mental Health Awareness Week contact Julie Bennion, Specialist in Mental Health Promotion on 642837 or by e-mail to: Julie.Bennion@gov.im
