World Mental Health Day: how we can still find support and connection in a crisis.
1) Support when it’s needed, and where we can get to it
The world can feel more uncertain and dangerous at the moment. Even those of us who aren’t at the heart of global events can feel the impact of them on our mental health. A global emergency can translate into many unheard personal mental health challenges.
Over a third of us in the UK struggle with our mental health day-to-day*, so it’s important that we make sure open-access support is available as easily, and as close to home, as possible. Services like our Seibiant Sanctuary crisis support, or our Hangout drop-in for young people, for example.
When a crisis happens, or we’re faced with emergencies, we need to prioritise psychological support in the same way we do for our physical needs. The health of our bodies and of our minds are linked.
Find out more about our open access services.
2) Keeping the plan going
Open-access mental health mental support forms part of the Welsh Government’s new 10 year mental health strategy, as does the importance of having communities and support networks around us. We feel safer together.
But in Wales, we need to call on our next government to continue prioritising mental health – so as part of the Wales Alliance for Mental Health, Platfform is doing just that.
We’ve also spoken to young people about the things they need to thrive, and our YP Manifesto brings those all together as a call for action. Around a third of young people in the UK say they are struggling, so we need to get this right.*
3) Building bridges
Perhaps the most important message at the moment is this: we need to stand together. Crisis can fuel division, and elements of public and political debate can add to narratives of hate.
But that only makes it harder to connect, to build the communities that support us, and to take collective action. We need to look for the things that unite us, the common ground, the shared experiences. People who engage with communities around them are happier, and more satisfied in life* – so let’s extend that to as many people as we can.
When times are hard, remember that it’s understandable to struggle with your mental health. You’re not alone, even if it can feel like it: many others are facing similar challenges. And when that happens, who we are or the differences in what we believe are less important than what we can achieve when we reach our across divides and help each other.
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