Welcome to another one of my ‘caringmind’ blog posts. My site and sometimes videos help to raise awareness of carers caring for those suffering mental health problems. When I mean carers, I do not mean care-workers. I am talking about unpaid carers, that being a friend, relative, those very close to the cared for.

Also to note, I like to raise awareness of mental health campaigns, the last one I did was on mental health month, but this one will be on mental health awareness week 2017.

For mental health awareness week, which is promoted by the Mental Health Foundation, the theme for 2017 is “uncovering why too few are thriving with good mental health”.

A bit about the Mental Health Foundation – Their vision is for a world with good mental health for all. Their mission is to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health. ‘Prevention’ is at the heart of what they do, because the best way to deal with a crisis is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Lets look at the Mental Health Foundation’s key findings in regards to mental health awareness week.

– More than 4 in 10 people say they have experienced depression
– Only a small minority of people (13%) report living with high levels of good mental health
– The figures show that the experience of poor mental health is not evenly distributed. If you are female, a young adult, on low income.

The Mental Health Foundation wishes for a 5 step process for Mental Health thriving in the UK.

1. Programme to spread public understanding about Mental Health
2. Investigate ways to prevent poor mental health.
3. A report to track progress
4. health checks to help those manage mental health
5. funding into mental health research.

You can find more about Mental Health Foundation off their site : www.mentalhealth.org.uk/

As a last note, don’t think that when Mental Health Awareness week finishes, people then go about their business. There will still be those out there struggling with mental health and carers struggling to support them and their own mental health.

It is important to get involved and stay involved. There are a number of ways. During the campaign, you can hold an event, spread the word (like I do), share your story and more.

Well I certainly wish for good mental health for all regardless if your a service user, carer, health professional, young or old, black or white it doesn’t matter.

See you next time.