World Mental Health Day, OCT 10

World Mental Health Day 2014: The misconceptions broken down

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.

The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

The focus this year is on ‘schizophrenia‘, in order to raise awareness and tackle the stigma around the illness. Sadly, there are still many misconceptions around mental health. Here, we tackle some of the most widespread. It’s easy to open up about having a mental health problem now

As a society, we have become more willing to be open with our emotions, so many people assume that speaking out about having a mental health problem has become relatively easy.

In the wake of the broadly sympathetic reaction to the death of Robin Williams, Guardian journalist Elizabeth Day recently questioned whether mental health stigma still exists at all. Research out this week shows that attitudes have indeed significantly improved in the last few years, but that stigma is still widespread. Nine of ten people with mental health problems say this has had a negative impact on their lives.

The litmus test is that most of us would simply not feel as comfortable telling friends and family about having a mental health problem, as they would saying they had a physical illness.

For illnesses like bipolar and schizophrenia, the stigma can be particularly stark. Research commissioned by Rethink Mental Illness found 65% of people would not tell their boss if they were diagnosed with schizophrenia. It’s hard to imagine the same proportion of people would keep a cancer diagnosis a secret.

Most people aren’t affected by mental health

Many people are now familiar with the often quoted statistic that 1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem in any given year. Yet in some ways this statistic is misleading. It creates the impression that there is a distinct group of people who are affected by ‘mental health’ and that they are a minority.

We all have mental health that needs to be taken care of, in the same way we all have physical health. While most of us won’t develop a diagnosable mental health problem, our mental health will have ups and downs and we can all benefit from taking steps to protect our wellbeing.

The 1 in 4 statistic also only applies to people who have a mental health problem themselves. But mental illness can have a huge impact on the friends and family of the person affected.

In short, we all know someone with a mental health problem and we all have mental health that needs care and attention, so this is an issue that affects us all.

People with mental health problems make unreliable employees

Full time paid work is not realistic for some people with the most severe and enduring mental illnesses, but for the vast majority of people with mental health problems, work is not only possible but beneficial.

Work can be central to staying well and can play an important role in ensuring people feel connected to other people and valued by society.

As a society, we have become more willing to be open with our emotions, so many people assume that speaking out about having a mental health problem has become relatively easy.

In the wake of the broadly sympathetic reaction to the death of Robin Williams, Guardian journalist Elizabeth Day recently questioned whether mental health stigma still exists at all.

Research out this week shows that attitudes have indeed significantly improved in the last few years, but that stigma is still widespread. Nine of ten people with mental health problems say this has had a negative impact on their lives.

The litmus test is that most of us would simply not feel as comfortable telling friends and family about having a mental health problem, as they would saying they had a physical illness.

For illnesses like bipolar and schizophrenia, the stigma can be particularly stark. Research commissioned by Rethink Mental Illness found 65% of people would not tell their boss if they were diagnosed with schizophrenia. It’s hard to imagine the same proportion of people would keep a cancer diagnosis a secret.

When people get swift, effective treatment, recovery is absolutely possible. Some people will experience one or two episodes of depression or psychosis and then never become ill again.

It’s a common misconception that a diagnosis of schizophria for example, is a life sentence. This is absolutely not the case. Around half of people diagnosed with the illness will make a lasting recovery, or only have occasional episodes. Chances of a long-term recovery are much better when people get access to specialist early intervention services.

But recovery doesn’t have to mean being free of all symptoms. Many people living with long-term mental illnesses are able to manage their condition and still live a full and satisfying life.

Mental illness only affects your mind

It’s a little known fact that people with severe mental illness die an average 20 years earlier than the rest of the population.

This is because people with a mental illness are more likely than the rest of the population to become physically ill, but are less likely to get support and treatment they need, when they do.

There are several factors which combine to put people with severe mental illness at risk. They include the impact of antipsychotic medication, lifestyle factors, poor health monitoring by the NHS and dismissive attitudes of some health professionals, which mean people aren’t always listened to when they go to the doctor.

But while the causes are numerous and complex, the solutions are actually quite simple. It’s about basic things like making sure people with schizophrenia are given regular physical health checks, so symptoms like high blood pressure can be spotted early and acted upon.

This week Rethink Mental Illness launched the +20 campaign, to give people with schizophrenia their twenty years back. We will not stop campaigning until people with severe mental illness have the same average life expectancy as everyone else.

World Mental Health Day 2014

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH PROMISE YET?

You have a role to play in your own mental health.

It’s about taking the time to look after yourself.

You can start by making a Mental Health Promise to yourself, right now.

It’s all part of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, coinciding with National Mental Health Week, 5 -12 October 2014.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2015 SUMMIT

POST 2015 WOMAN: “Mental Health …is an Inside Job!”

TORONTO, CANADA – MARCH 8

WORLD FEDERATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH – HERE