Why We Need To Raise More Awareness Of Mental Illness…

* Content Warning: discusses mental health and suicide * 

Mental health awareness has increased massively in the 21st century. But, we still need to do better. NHS counselling services are underfunded, waiting times long, discrimination in the workplace and each suicide we hear of is a tragedy that we wish we could of prevented. We need to educate from a young age and make mental health first aid a necessity. I’m going to explain in this post why I think it’s urgent that we raise more mental illness awareness.

SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

If we all have a better understanding of mental illness, then it will be easier to support friends and family who are struggling. It can be difficult to know how to help and support someone if you haven’t had first or second hand experience of mental illness. We need to educate ourselves on different disorders, know how spot those who are struggling early on and learn how to have an open conversation about our mental health. We need to act earlier to support friends and family before their mental health gets worse.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

Whilst this definitely isn’t the case for everyone, mental illness can lead to death. 6859[1] people died from suicide in the UK in 2018 and 730 of those deaths were under the age of 25! Suicide can be prevented, there are treatments, medication and support that can be provided. But if mental health isn’t more of an open conversation in society, then people can struggle to share how they are really doing and in turn seek help. We need to take away the stigma of discussing mental illness and swap it for empathy and understanding to guide people towards support that is available. We need to educate ourselves on mental health first aid to help reduce the suicide rate.

‘Always remember you matter, you’re important and you are loved, and you bring to this world things no one else can’   -Charlie Mackesy

FUND NHS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The NHS mental health services are vastly underfunded. Waiting lists for high intensity treatments can be 9 months plus. And it’s not good enough, those who are struggling need to be able to access professional support quickly and without fear of cost. Schools and universities need more mental health provisions, counsellors, advice and support to offer. Those suffering mental health issues need more than a drop in session with a different person each time and a self-help guide. We need to lobby for more mental health services, vote in political parties that support mental health and the funding of the NHS.

END MENTAL ILLNESS DISCRIMINATION

There needs to be more support and education in the workplace of mental illness. Employers need be trained and have an awareness of mental health first aid. Those with a mental illness can struggle to find jobs because of discrimination or don’t disclose when they are struggling because of fear of losing their job. 1 in 6 people experience mental health problems such as anxiety, low mood and stress in the workplace[2]. As a society we need to learn more about mental illness so that we can make an environment that people feel comfortable to share how they are feeling, their diagnosis and receive the support they need.

CONCLUSION

I cannot stress how important it is that we make it a priority to increase mental illness awareness. Lets not just skim the surface, but go deeper, really listen to those who speak up, step out and share their story. Educate ourselves so we can understand others and maybe even ourselves better. Mental illness is as real as physical illness and we need to treat it with the same immediacy, funding and support. Because peoples lives and well-being depends on it.

REACH OUT

This post is all my own views and I hope it is an encouragement for raising more mental health awareness. Sometimes the simple things like checking in with your friends to see how they are really doing is a good first step to breaking the mental health stigma. I have also linked an article below on understanding the difference between the terms; ‘mental illness’, ‘mental health’ and ‘mental health issues‘; that I used in this post. If you feel affected by anything I have said please reach out to a friend, talk to your doctor, visit Mind.org.uk or message me. x

• ‘The Difference Between Mental Health And Mental Illness’ – Article
• Mind Mental Health Charity
• Samaritans – 24/7 Emergency Helpline Phone: 116 123
• Mental Health First Aid
• [1] https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/suicide-facts-and-figures/
• [2] https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work-website/

Written by Rebecca Reece 

Her website: https://realliferebs.wordpress.com/ 

About the Writer: Rebecca is aged 20 from Bournemouth, currently studying Philosophy in Birmingham.