Mental Health Awareness Week: How You Can Get Involved

Saturday, May 12, 2018

From Monday 14th to Friday 20th May it is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year's focus is on stress, and how stress can be a key factor that can effect a person's mental health.

Here we take a look at how you can get involved in this year's Mental Health Awareness Week. And, we will also highlight the signs to look out for if you are worried that yourself, or a family member or friend, is experiencing a mental health problem.

How to get involved?

There are plenty of ways to get involved this year in order to help spread the word! You can visit the organisers website, Mental Health Foundation, and download a fundraising pack to raise awareness and funds.

You can also hold an event to start a conversations about mental health. This event can be a simple walk that you can invite family, friends, colleagues and the local community too. Or you can set up local talks, awareness stands in the supermarket, and much more.

How to know if someone has a mental health problem?

While it is important to raise awareness of mental health and give people a safe space to talk about it, it is also important to be able to identify the signs of a mental health problem. Mental health can manifest in a number of ways, with some of the most common concerns being depression and anxiety.

Signs of depression can include:

- losing interest in activities a person would normally enjoy
- loss of appetite
- feeling tired or getting tired easily
- acting irritable
- acting nervous
- feeling teaful
- low self-esteem or low confidence

Signs of anxiety can include:

- difficulty concentrating on tasks
- acting irritable
- avoiding certain situations
- trouble sleeping
- experiencing panic or fear
- experiencing heart palpitations

Where can someone go for help with their mental health?

If you are concerned, the first person you can talk to is your GP. They will be able to listen, give you advice, and point you in the right direction if they feel any other specialist treatment is necessary.