Those of you who have joined me in more recent times might not be aware that when I started this blog, just over thirteen years ago, I did so with the aim of sharing my experiences of depression, having been encouraged to do so by my counsellor when I was returning to work after many months away. He told me that what I was writing for him in the tasks he gave me was ‘inspirational’ and would help others, and it turned out that he was right. I have shifted my emphasis away from mental health over the years but it still remains important for me, and I always try to post about it at least a couple of times each year.
One of the constants for me has been to mark World Mental Health Day (WMHD), which takes place each year on 10th October – i.e. today. This will be my tenth offering for this, and the seventh in successive years: the message is too important to be overlooked. What is WMHD about? It was initiated in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and is given a theme each year. This year they have chosen “Access To Services: Mental health in Catastrophies and Emergencies” for this, as you can read on their website. They have provided a toolkit to support this, which is well worth a look, and there are a couple of quotes in support. Their current President, Tsuyoshi Akiyama, says
This theme seems highly opportune to the current global situation. The world news reports countless catastrophes and emergencies. How are these catastrophes and emergencies affecting the mental health of human beings? Is there sufficient access to services to sustain, if not improve, mental health?
And their President-elect, Prof. Dr. Sabine Bährer-Kohler, adds a useful fact sheet. I’m giving you an extract, as it is quite long, but if you want to read it in full just follow the link above:
- Millions of people worldwide were and are affected by catastrophes and emergencies.
- Nearly one-third of disaster-affected people may experience burdensome consequences in the mental health context.
- Mental health disorders caused by disasters and emergencies require special skills, knowledge and competences of professionals.
- International guidelines and reports recommend various activities, support forms and actions for providing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) during emergencies.
- Mental health support in emergencies requires ”a major rethink” of professionals and others.
- The effects of emergencies and catastrophes are varied and multifaceted. For affected people and for deployed helpers.
- This year’s theme also serves to highlight that these are areas where mental health disorders can occur more frequently, that many of these affected people need professional mental health support, and that the necessary support must reach them.
If you like to see your facts in an easy to digest format, I found this two minute video that might help:
There is a lot of information in that, and it is quite shocking. Apologies for the rather annoying music behind it: it may not surprise you to know that the track is titled Viral Dirge!
Here in the UK the support for WMHD is coordinated by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), whose website you can find here. Again, I’m sharing some of what they say to give you an idea of their approach:
For this year’s World Mental Health Day, we’re focusing on the mental health impact of repeated exposure to news coverage of crises and conflicts.
The world is going through a tough time right now and even if you’re not directly affected by events, it can still feel like a lot to cope with. It’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you, or anyone else is going through. Read our advice on managing feelings of overwhelm.
We may not have the power to influence or change everything we’d like to on a global scale. But there are things we can do to protect ourselves and others from feeling overwhelmed and hopeless in the face of current events. Read our tips on managing your news consumption and the impact of doomscrolling.
I’ve left in their links so that you can read more for yourself, if you wish – it is worth a visit, trust me. One of the resources they provide is a tip sheet to help us manage our exposure to news and the damaging effects it can have on our mental health – you’ll find it here, and I think it is very good. I particularly like the idea of controlling the amount of news we consume, and taking a break from our phones: modern day connectivity is all well and good, but we have forgotten how to switch off. There is a simple underlying message here: if the news is too much for you, don’t watch it! And if you do, try to choose a sensible source, which is also easier said than done these days, as filtering out the bias isn’t simple and some of the less reliable sites are likely to induce rage, which isn’t good for you.
The MHF mention doomscrolling – do you know what that is? It is a fairly new word to describe the effects of consuming large amounts of negative news online – something which we often do late in the evening, when we are thinking that we are ‘just keeping in touch’ but are actually doing something injurious to our mental health. The MHF have a useful guide on managing this, which you’ll find here if you didn’t follow the link above. I particularly like the idea of doing simple things, like turning off push notifications. I’ve never understood why anyone would want their mobile phone constantly bleeping at them anyway, and have never used them.
Alongside the main campaign messages the MHF also gives advice that is helpful in more general circumstances, if you or someone you know may be in need of help. Another good website for resources is the Hub Of Hope, which you may see referenced in news stories today about the Prince of Wales’ interview with a brave lady who lost her husband to suicide, five days after the passing of her youngest child at just a year old. You’ll find the story here, if you want to follow it up. Rhian and Prince William give a vital message, which is also part of what the MHF is saying: if you are struggling, please talk to someone who can help. That may sound easier to say than to do, but from personal experience I know how important that message is. I bottled things up and made my situation much worse than it needed to have been, so please, don’t be like I was!
I hope you have found something helpful in this piece, especially if you might be in need of some support: it is out there if you look for it. I am aware that this post is very UK-centric, as that is what I know best, but if you are elsewhere you will find helpful resources where you are, too. As just one example, the US has the National Institute of Mental Health (the NIH) and you can find their website here. It is a sad reflection of the current US situation that it has a banner at the top about the uncertainty of continued government funding, but the links they provide to sources of help are still just as valid. And it is also a very good reminder about the theme for WMHD this year: watching the news can be damaging to your mental health!
Take care 🩷
Take It Easy 