I've got this disease that I can't shake, and I'm just rattling through life. #mentalhealthawarenessweek #mentalhealthawarenessmonth

“Mental health” is a modern buzz-word.  A sure hit as a hashtag and when it’s said everybody in the room nods knowingly.  We know it’s important, and most of us have felt the very real impact of having bad mental health. However, what can we actually DO?! For ourselves and for others in a crisis.

For other awareness months for let’s say *breast cancer* we get a list of symptoms.  We get information on screening services, self-checking, hereditary genes on how you can get diagnosed.  How you can get treated, rid yourself of the cancer and on the road to be completely cancer-free. 

Sadly mental health isn’t as ultimately fixable in my opinion.  Although the campaigns for mental health awareness are valuable I believe it’s time to look past awareness and get to some actual support.  Me being aware of breast cancer doesn’t help anyone if I can’t help them get treatment or support.  What’s the difference between awareness and support?

Firstly, not all mental health issues can be solved by a chat with a friend over coffee.  I’m sorry but that’s not enough.  We need real and definite support.  We need free therapy for those who need it.  At the minute if you ask your GP for a referral to counselling (and you’re not suicidal) you’ll be waiting 8 months on average.  Local charities have the same waiting times.  Most of these counselling sessions will be capped at 6 sessions.  If you need more you’ll be charged £40 a session.  If you can’t afford it you’ll not be helped until you’re at crisis point again.  Is there anybody who thinks this is enough? 

We need appropriate medication (if needed) with routine reviews with a psychiatric professional to make sure the medication is still needed and having the desired affects.  In most cases with those who have mental illnesses we are sent home with a tablet on repeat prescription unless we decide to stop taking it or take a new or different dosage.  There is no guidance and no reviews with the patient.  I think this is for a number of reasons, and the one that comes to mind for me is that our GPs are not specially trained in diagnosing and reviewing mental health patients.  Why are all people who suspect they have a mental illness being diagnosed and medication by a professional not specially trained in mental illness?

In order for there to be any sort of real awareness I would propose for new legislation amongst schools, workplaces and community groups to incorporate mental health workshops.  Like health and safety is prioritised currently.  These could give people a chance to explore general mental health and every day ways to help.  This has been most recently broadcast as take 5 (https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/publications/take-5-steps-wellbeing-english-and-11-translations) which (as a general information for all) I think is great.  These workshops could explore those 5 steps on a personal level as an effort to maintain personal mental health.  Much in the same wavelength as physical wellbeing is being taught as eat well, exercise, stay safe in the sun, don’t smoke and don’t drink.

These mental health workshops could additionally serve as information points for everybody, and to gain essential knowledge how to cope with bad mental health in themselves and those around them.  However if order for these to be successful we need the two main sources of support explored above for more complex mental issues/illnesses.

I’d love to know more ‘hands-on’ ideas on how we could look after ourselves and each other’s mental health.

All my feelings,
J9