World Mental Health Day 2022

World Mental Health Day 2022

Today is World Mental Health Day 2022.

When living with a mental health problem it it crucial that you have access to the right information and support. With this in mind, we have pulled together a collection of general resources that may be relevant to you or your loved one. 

 

Understanding different mental health problems

There are many types of mental health problems and the symptoms can vary from person to person.

Below we have listed a handful of mental health problems and their definition according to Mind. To read the full list on Mind’s website, please click here.

• Anger
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Eating problems
• OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
• Loneliness
• Post-natal depression and perinatal mental health
• Phobias
• Stress
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

It’s important to remember that we’ve only displayed a handful of problems to demonstrate how many broad the term "mental health" really is. We hope that this page has given you a brief understanding; but to learn more about the types of mental health problems, please click here.

 

Mental health organisations and charities

National Mental Health Support

Across the UK there are various organisations and charities setup to support individuals who are dealing with mental health conditions, we have listed some of them below.

NHS

The NHS offers a wide range of Mental Health support.

If it is an emergency and you or somebody around you needs urgent help with their Mental Health, the NHS website advises you to call 999 or visit A&E. If you need help urgently for your mental health but it is not an emergency get help from NHS 111 online or to call 111.

To find out more about the types of support the NHS can offer, please click here.

Mind

Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

The charity say that: “When you’re experiencing a mental health problem, supportive and reliable information can change your life. That’s what we do.”

To find out more about Mind by visiting their website, please click here.

Samaritans

Samaritans offer a 24 hour helpline for those in need of mental health support.

To seek help through Samaritans, call 116 123.

Their website states that: “You can get in touch about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how large or small the issue feels.”

To find out more, please click here.

Mental Health Foundation

The Mental Health Foundation offers “information and advice based on evidence and the lived experiences of real people”.

The charity states: “If you are concerned that you are developing a mental health problem you should seek the advice and support of your GP as a matter of priority. If you are in distress and need immediate help and are unable to see a GP, you should visit A&E.”

To find out more, please click here.

 

Local Mental Health Support

NHS Mental Health Concern

Mental Health Concern are a group working on behalf of the NHS to support adults with mental health issues across Newcastle.

Their team of Peer Support Workers have real-life experience of mental ill-health and understand what it’s like dealing with it. According to their website, they offer:

• “Help to people who are struggling to access support for their mental health”
• “A team of Peer Support Workers with lived experience of mental health issues”
• “A community development-based approach to mental health transformation”

Mental Health Concern say that: “We are here to support people to attend groups and key community support, to help them to gain the confidence to access activities and services to improve their mental health.”

You can find out more and get access to this support by clicking here.

Vita Health Group

Vita Health Group are a local, free and confidential NHS service that you can self-refer to.

Working in partnership with the NHS, Vita provides talking therapy services (known as IAPT/Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and they can provide advice and guidance on what the best options are for you.

This is a free service and you don’t need to visit a GP to get help, you can click here to find out more or call Vita on 0330 0543 230.

North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network

As some of the suicide rates are highest in the North of England, Stop Suicide NENC was formed to offer support to improve support for those affected.

Their main aims are to reduce the number of suicides, reduce the incidence of self-harm and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. They do so by following national guidelines and working with other integrated care systems.

Find out more and seek support from the service by clicking here.

 

Supporting a Loved One

Sometimes a mental health problem can be extremely difficult to spot, even in somebody you’d consider yourself very close to.

However, if you think a loved one is struggling with a mental health problem it can be life changing for them if you offer the right support. To ensure that you are able to offer relevant, and constructive, support it can be helpful to seek guidance. Some of the charities and organisations we mentioned above offer helpful guidance on supporting somebody with mental health problems.

 

How do I support a loved one with their mental health problem?

Below is a list of commonly asked questions, sourced from Mental Health Charities/Organisations, surrounding supporting a loved one with a mental health problem.

 

How do I know if someone has a mental health problem?

Sometimes it will seem obvious when someone is going through a hard time, but there is no simple way of knowing if they have a mental health problem. Sometimes you don’t need to know. It’s more important to respond sensitively to someone who seems troubled than to find out whether or not they have a diagnosis.

Although certain symptoms are common with specific mental health problems, no two people behave in exactly the same way when they are unwell. If you know the person well, you may notice changes in their behaviour or mood.

Our A-Z of mental health provides information on a range of mental health problems.

Source: Mental Health Foundation

 

How can I help?

There are a number of ways you can help a friend, relative or colleague who has a mental health problem:

Talking about mental health

If you are worried about someone it can be difficult to know what to do. When you are aware there is an issue, it is important not to wait. Waiting and hoping they will come to you for help might lose valuable time in getting them support.

Talking to someone is often the first step to take when you know they are going through a hard time. This way you can find out what is troubling them and what you can do to help.

Source: Mental Health Foundation

 

How to offer support

Simple actions can help you be there for someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts or recovering from an attempt to take their own life.

It’s also important to know when to seek professional support, and when to step back to look after yourself.

Evidence shows asking someone if they’re suicidal can protect them. By asking someone directly about suicide, you give them permission to tell you how they feel, and let them know that they are not a burden.

People who have felt suicidal will often say what a huge relief it was to be able to talk about what they were experiencing.

If someone does let you know that they are having suicidal thoughts, always take them seriously. You don’t have to be able to solve their problems. But, if you feel you can, offer support and encourage them to talk about how they’re feeling.

In the video below Richard, a Samaritans volunteer,  shares his thoughts on how best to bring up the issue of suicide with someone.

Source: Samaritans

 

Eight tips for talking about mental health.

1. Set time aside with no distractions

It is important to provide an open and non-judgemental space with no distractions.

2. Let them share as much or as little as they want to

Let them lead the discussion at their own pace. Don’t put pressure on them to tell you anything they aren’t ready to talk about. Talking can take a lot of trust and courage. You might be the first person they have been able to talk to about this.

3. Don’t try to diagnose or second guess their feelings

You probably aren’t a medical expert and, while you may be happy to talk and offer support, you aren’t a trained counsellor. Try not to make assumptions about what is wrong or jump in too quickly with your own diagnosis or solutions.

4. Keep questions open ended

Say “Why don’t you tell me how you are feeling?” rather than “I can see you are feeling very low”. Try to keep your language neutral. Give the person time to answer and try not to grill them with too many questions.

5. Talk about self-care

Talk about ways of de-stressing or practicing self-care and ask if they find anything helpful. Exercising, having a healthy diet and getting a good nights sleep can help protect mental health and sustain wellbeing. 

6. Listen carefully to what they tell you

Repeat what they have said back to them to ensure you have understood it. You don’t have to agree with what they are saying, but by showing you understand how they feel, you are letting them know you respect their feelings.

7. Offer them help in seeking professional support and provide information on ways to do this

You might want to offer to go the GP with them, or help them talk to a friend or family member. Try not to take control and allow them to make decisions.

8. Know your limits

You will have your own limits to the support that you can provide. And it’s important to take care of yourself too. Give yourself time to rest and process what they have told you or what’s happened. Try to help them create a support network of other friends, relatives and mental health professionals who can help them too.

Remember that If you believe they are in immediate danger or they have injuries that need medical attention, you need to take urgent action to make sure they are safe. More details on dealing in a crisis can be found below.

If it is a family member or close friend you are concerned about, they might not want to talk to you. Try not to take this personally: talking to someone you love can be difficult as they might be worried they are hurting you. It is important to keep being open and honest and telling them that you care. It may also be helpful to give them information of organisations or people they can reach out to. A list can be found below.

Source: Mental Health Foundation

 

How do I respond in a crisis?

People with mental health problems sometimes experience a crisis, such as feeling suicidal, or experiencing their own or a different reality. 

You may feel a sense of crisis too, but it’s important to stay calm yourself.

There are some general strategies that you can use to help:

• Listen without making judgements and concentrate on their needs in that moment.
• Ask them what would help them.
• Reassure and signpost to practical information or resources.
• Avoid confrontation.
• Ask if there is someone they would like you to contact.
• Encourage them to seek appropriate professional help.
• If they have hurt themselves, make sure they get the first aid they need.

Seeing, hearing or believing things that no-one else does can be the symptom of a mental health problem. It can be frightening and upsetting. Gently remind the person who you are and why you are there. Don’t reinforce or dismiss their experiences, but acknowledge how the symptoms are making them feel.

Source: Mental Health Foundation

 

What does ‘being there’ for someone involve?

The needs of a person who is struggling with suicidal thoughts will depend on their circumstances. For this reason, there isn’t one simple set of steps to follow.

What you can do, however, is provide a supportive presence, free of judgment. This creates a safe space for them to feel their feelings and express themselves, if they want to. Or to sit in silence and know they are cared for, if they want to.

If the person you’re with does share how they’re feeling with you, it is usually better to listen and respond with open questions – not advice or opinions.

The important thing is to let the person know you will support them, without judgment, as far as you are able to. You don’t need to change what they are going through for them. Remember as well that it’s okay to decide that you are no longer able to help someone and to let them know you won’t be contactable for a while.

In the video below Chris, a Samaritans volunteer, describes how saying what you’re feeling out loud and being listened to can help

Source: Samaritans

 

How do I respond if someone is suicidal?

If someone tells you they are feeling suicidal or can’t go on, it is very important to encourage them to get help. You or they should contact a GP or NHS 111. They can also contact the Samaritans straight away by calling 116 123 (UK) for free at any time. They could also get help from their friends, family, or mental health services.

You can ask how they are feeling and let them know that you are available to listen. Talking can be a great help to someone who is feeling suicidal, but it may be distressing for you. It is important for you to talk to someone about your own feelings and the Samaritans can help you as well.

If they are planning to take their own life please encourage them to call 999 (UK) or go to A&E and ask for the contact of the nearest crisis resolution team. These are teams of mental health care professionals who work with people in severe distress. 

Source: Mental Health Foundation

 

What if it begins to affect me?

Supporting someone else can sometimes be stressful. Making sure that you look after your own wellbeing can mean that you have the energy, time and distance you need to be able to help. For example:

• Set boundaries and don’t take too much on. If you become unwell yourself you won’t be able to offer as much support. (See our pages on how to manage stress for more information.)
• Share your caring role with others, if you can. It’s often easier to support someone if you’re not doing it alone.
• Talk to someone about how you’re feeling. You may want to be careful about how much information you share about the person you’re supporting, but talking about your own feelings with someone you trust can help you feel supported too.

Source: Mind

Can I get support?

You may be entitled to social care support from your Local Authority to help you care for your friend or family member. You can contact them directly and ask for a carers assessment (see our pages on carers’ social care rights and how to cope when supporting someone else for more information).

The charity Carers UK also provide more information and support for carers.

Source: Mind

If you have questions that aren’t featured in this section, we would strongly advise that you look to seek support from one of the aforementioned charities or organisations.

 

Support for carers

It’s important to remember to manage your own health and wellbeing when caring for others.

Support for your own mental health

Mind outline three key areas to seek support for your own mental health as a carer. These are:

• Your GP. It’s always ok to seek help, even if you are not experiencing a specific mental health problem. For more information, see our page about talking to your GP. It explains how your GP can help and what might happen in an appointment.
• Talking treatments. Treatments such as counselling give you time to explore your worries and difficult feelings with a professional. You can talk about how looking after someone else affects you, without having to feel guilty for expressing your frustrations or difficulties. For more information, see our page on talking treatments.
• Mental health helplines and listening services. Helplines are staffed by trained people ready to listen. They won’t judge you, and could help you make sense of what you’re feeling. We have a list of contacts and more information on our page about helplines.

 

Local charities that support carers

NHS Mental Health Concern

Mental Health Concern are a group working on behalf of the NHS to support adults with mental health issues across Newcastle.

Their team of Peer Support Workers have real-life experience of mental ill-health and understand what it’s like dealing with it. According to their website, they offer:

• “Help to people who are struggling to access support for their mental health”
• “A team of Peer Support Workers with lived experience of mental health issues”
• “A community development-based approach to mental health transformation”

Mental Health Concern say that: “We are here to support people to attend groups and key community support, to help them to gain the confidence to access activities and services to improve their mental health.”

You can find out more and get access to this support by clicking here.

Vita Health Group

Vita Health Group are a local, free and confidential NHS service that you can self-refer to.

Working in partnership with the NHS, Vita provides talking therapy services (known as IAPT/Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) and they can provide advice and guidance on what the best options are for you.

This is a free service and you don’t need to visit a GP to get help, you can click here to find out more or call Vita on 0330 0543 230.

North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Network

As some of the suicide rates are highest in the North of England, Stop Suicide NENC was formed to offer support to improve support for those affected.

Their main aims are to reduce the number of suicides, reduce the incidence of self-harm and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. They do so by following national guidelines and working with other integrated care systems.

Find out more and seek support from the service by clicking here.