Mental Health
Globally, 792 million people¹ in 2017 were affected by mental health issues. In England, data shows that an estimated 1 in 6 adults have experienced a common mental disorder such as depression or anxiety². The world can be an intimidating place at times, and even more so in the past few months. More than ever we need to be supportive and aware of our friends and family’s mental health and wellbeing - even a simple call might make someone's day 10 times better!
What is mental health?
Ever wondered what mental health is? Mental health can be identified as the emotional, psychological and social well being and it can occur at any stage of life from childhood the whole way through to adulthood³.
What causes mental health problems?
The important thing to remember is that different situations can affect everyone’s emotional health and well being in a different way! Mind UK, a mental health charity, identified some causes of poor mental health such as childhood abuse, social isolation, poverty or debt and bereavement⁴ - the list is endless!
Those who are part of the BME (Black minority ethnic) population may have additional influences on their mental health. Research carried out in England shows that 73% of the BME population experienced racial discrimination⁵. An equality and human rights report conducted in Scotland also outlined how ethnic minorities are at a higher risk of poverty and unemployment⁶. All of these factors can contribute to someone's mental health⁷.
In the current world we live in there can sometimes be a stigma attached to mental health. Within the BME community, only a fifth of respondents in a study felt they were able to talk about their mental health⁵. Furthermore, according to Mind UK⁸, there is an issue surrounding mental health support provided to the BME population, which could be due to discrimination. People within the black community are not as likely to undergo psychological therapies but 40% have a higher chance of getting support through a police or criminal justice route⁸.
Self - care
As lockdown slowly starts to lift, it is important to remember to take time for self - care. It can be an effective technique to manage mental health. Below are some ideas to incorporate self - care into your day to day life!
Try to get good quality sleep⁹.
Keep physically active¹⁰- pick something you enjoy doing!
Stay in touch with friends and family - talking to others can help you feel less alone.
Eat well¹¹ - the brain needs energy and nutrients to function well too!
Try mindfulness or relaxation techniques¹².
Ensure you stick to UK guidelines when drinking alcohol¹³.
Press pause - this can mean anything from taking a break from social media to ensuring you use your lunch break¹⁴.
If lifestyle changes are not effective in managing mental health, that is okay - don’t worry! There are other forms of support available. Your GP may refer you to talking therapies or prescribe medication. They may also suggest some other forms of treatments such as arts and crafts therapies¹⁵, as well as complementary therapies¹⁶ such as yoga.
Want more information on how to combat poor mental health? Reach out to charities such as Mind UK¹⁷ and Mental Health Foundation¹⁸.
References:
https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/sites/default/files/TTC_Final%20Report_ETHNOS_summary_1.pdf
Equality and Human Rights Commission (2016) Healing a divided Britain: the need for a comprehensive race equality strategy. Available at: Race Report 1j final.indd
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/b/black-asian-and-minority-ethnic-bame-communities
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/looking-after-your-mental-health/eat-well
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-look-after-your-mental-health-using-mindfulness
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/calculating-alcohol-units/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/looking-after-your-mental-health/take-break