WMHD24_Posters_grad_enBy Sue Reece
Thursday the 10th of October is World Mental Health Day, and every year friends, family and colleagues come together to raise awareness, share life experiences, their personal ups and downs and talk about how to support and promote better mental health in their family, workplace and community.
The World Health organisation (WHO) reported in 2022 that 1 in every 8 people live with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression as the most common diagnosis. At any one time, a diverse set of individual, family, community, and structural factors may combine to protect or undermine mental health. Although most people are resilient, people who are exposed to adverse circumstances are at higher risk.
Alarmingly, MIND say that 1 in 5 young people have a mental health problem, and often can’t get the help they need. That’s why they have campaigned to #FundtheHubs in every local area to ensure every young person in the local community has access to support. There is a £7.92 million joint commitment from the Government and Department of Health and Social Care to invest in 24 Hubs to kickstart a nationwide role out. We need to push for a hub in Southwest Durham to support our young people. For further information on supporting the campaign visit www.mind.org.uk
The Mental Health foundation tea and talk for World Mental Health Day is focusing on helping to stay mentally well with advice on ways people have found to improve their overall wellbeing:
- Talk about your feelings. Just being listened to can help you feel supported and less alone with any problems you’re going through.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Sleep and mental health are closely linked: mental ill-health can affect your sleep, and poor sleep can affect your mental well-being.
- Eat Well. A balanced diet can improve your sense of well-being and your mood.
- Stay active. Physical activity is not only good for your body, but it’s also great for your mind.
- Practice mindfulness, a way to be fully engaged and present in the moment.
- Keep in touch. Supportive friends can help you deal with the stresses of life, make you feel cared for and offer a different view from whatever’s going on in your head.
- Care for others, whether that’s working on relationships with family, letting go of old grudges, or volunteering.
Engaging with activities in your community is a great way to stay active and connected to other people, volunteering, helping the litter pickers, becoming an allotment holder or joining a local group: in Chilton the Women’s Craft Group meets on a Thursday morning and Men’s Walking Group on Friday. There are specialist support groups for Menopause and, for those less mobile or getting back to fitness, the Chair Exercise Group. The thing they all have in common is a warm welcome, friendly conversation and cup of tea or coffee. If you are looking for something more active there’s the tennis club, croquet and Chilton Juniors Football Club.
To find out more about our community activities or need help to access more specialist support, contact Chilton Town www.chiltondurham-tc.gov.uk
Tel 01388721788
Or call in to Hutton House 9am-2pm Monday to Friday