World Mental Health Day 2023

10^th October is World Mental Health Day.

In England, 1 in 4 people every year will experience a mental health problem. While mental health can be difficult to talk about, it’s really important that we do talk about it, to raise awareness, break down stigma, and make sure that nobody struggles alone.

Stigma

Unfortunately, stigma and discrimination continue to surround mental health problems, which can make people’s problems worse. This may come from the media, society, employers, or even our friends and family.

Stigma can be a barrier to people getting mental health support, which is why it’s so important that we treat our mental health like we treat our physical health. If you had a problem with your physical health that wasn’t going away, you would see a doctor – so why should our mental health be any different?

What should I do if I’m feeling down?

If you’ve been feeling down, know that you don’t have to carry on feeling this way. It can be hard to ask for help, and you might not know where to start, or what sort of help you want or need.

We offer free NHS Talking Therapies in the Kent and Medway area. Talking therapies are a safe and confidential space for you to speak openly about what you’re struggling with, with a trained professional.

There are different kinds of talking therapies that can help with different things – you might have heard of counselling or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. To find out more about the therapies we offer click here.

Over on our Instagram, we’ve put together some slides on how to find a talking therapies provider in your local area, and what happens when you self refer, linked here.

Remember that you’re never alone in anything you’re going through, there is always someone to talk to.