Today is World Mental Health day and it’s important, now more than ever, that we openly discuss mental health issues and the impact they can have on people’s lives. Roughly 1 in 4 people in the UK will, have or do suffer from a mental illness. Yet, Mental health research receives only 5.5% (£115 million) of total UK health research spending.
Mental illness is such a common problem, particularly for those aged between 18-30. The small funding that is provided for research is a drop in the water compared to the size of the problem. To add to this mental health services in the UK are overstretched, have long waiting times and, in some regions, lack specialist services meaning that even if someone asks for help they can be waiting a long time before they receive it.
These facts and figures can no longer be considered acceptable. Mental health is becoming a topic people can more openly discuss but it also needs recognised as an area that needs more funding and political attention.
We also need to allow people the opportunity to look after themselves; to take a day on the sofa without social interaction, to spoil themselves with a special purchase, to take a moment to address their mental health needs and meet them. In everyday life we are encouraged to look after our bodies, our careers, our relationships; we need to put more focus on looking after our own mental state.
Mental health needs to be taught in schools the same way that physical and sexual health is. If we can inform people of the common symptoms, feelings or problems then perhaps we can also teach people ways of coping through things such as mindfulness, meditation or ask for counselling.
Mental illness cannot continue to rise the way it has in recent years. We need to re-evaluate how we treat it, prevent it and educate ourselves on it. Today is Mental Health Day, let’s start changing things by taking the time today to address our own mental health needs and catering to them.
Thoughts of a Millennial 