World Mental Health Day 2024
World Mental Health Day (WMHD) was established on 10th October 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health. Since then, it has been observed every year with the aim of raising awareness in the global community about critical mental health agendas through collaboration with various partners to take action and create lasting change.
Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but WMHD is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.
It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace
The theme of World Mental Health Day 2024, set by the World Federation for Mental Health, is ‘It is time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’ and highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace, for the benefit of people, organisations, and communities.
Work can have a huge impact on our mental health. It can be good for our mental health, giving us a sense of purpose, boosting our self-worth, and providing opportunities to connect with others. But it can also be a source of stress and anxiety and contribute to developing or worsening mental health problems.
Many people spend a lot of their time working, whether that’s in the community, in an office, a workshop, at home, or many other workplaces.
That’s why it’s so important that our workplace supports our mental health, helping us get the mental health benefits of work while reducing the negative impact.
But what is a mentally healthy workplace?
There are many things that contribute to a mentally healthy workplace, from providing staff training on mental health to tackling discrimination and bullying. Importantly, a mentally healthy workplace supports open conversations about mental health.
While talking about mental health in the workplace has become more common, many people still face stigma when it comes to severe mental health problems. This means there’s more work to be done to tackle mental health stigma in the workplace.
Click here to read more about how to support mental health at work on the Mental Health Foundation website.
Taking care of yourself and others
WMHD is an important day when we can all take time to think about our own mental health, and how we look after it. We can also take a moment to think about those around us, and how we can support them when they’re struggling. Take the opportunity this World Mental Health Day to either do, or plan to do, one thing , such as going for a walk, doing something creative, taking the first steps to getting support for yourself, or reaching out to someone else.
There are little things we can all do to help look after our mental health and by completing 5 actions each day, we can begin to see an improvement to our wellbeing, these are the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. Click here to find out more about the 5 Ways to Wellbeing and how you can begin to complete these actions. Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. Follow the links below for more information, and practical tips, on looking after yourself and improving your wellbeing…
- Get Your Mind Plan – get your free plan with tips to help you improve your wellbeing.
- Mind’s Side By Side Online Community
- Mental Health Foundation’s Best Mental Health Tips backed by research
- Kickstart Your Health – physical health and mental health go hand in hand.
- Practical ways to help yourself cope from the Samaritans
- Mental Health and Self-Care Guidance for Young People
- Self-Help Guides from CNTW
For more information on World Mental Health Day, looking after your mental health, or campaigning for further investment in mental health services, click here to visit the official website via the World Federation for Mental Health. You may also find that visiting the Mental Health Foundation, World Health Organisation and Mind’s websites are useful in helping you find out more about World Mental Health Day 2024 and how you can get involved.
Starting Conversations…
Talking is vital, it can make a difference and we want everyone to know that support is available, and they are not alone. That is why Ray’s Corner was created. Rays Corner is for anyone of us across our City who are in need of support – for themselves or for others. This corner is a place where anyone can visit and find information about accessing support and local services. Whether people feel they are ready to access services yet, or are just looking for self-help tips, this safe space will be available for all in our communities.
We hope that by having Ray’s corner available in workplaces and community settings across our local area, people will be able to find the right support. For more information about Ray’s Corner and to find out how to get one set up in your building/workplace, click here.
Accessing Local Mental Health Support
If you feel that you need help with your mental help with you mental health, you are not alone. There are lots of different ways to get help and support for your mental health and you can find a number of options from Mind. To search for local organisations in the Sunderland and South Tyneside area who can offer support, click here.
