Today marks World Mental Health Day. The theme for 2023, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.
World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health.
It is also a chance to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.
Whether you would like to talk to someone about how you are feeling, or check-in with someone you care about, here are some tips that can help from the World Mental Health Foundation.
Choose someone you trust to talk to
This might be a friend, family member or a colleague. You might be more comfortable talking to someone you do not know, for example, through a support helpline. It can help to do a pros and cons list about talking to someone.
Think about the best place to talk
It’s important to choose a place where you feel comfortable enough to open up. You might want to choose somewhere private where you are less likely to be disturbed. You also might want to talk while you do an activity, like walking together.
Prepare yourself for their reaction
Hopefully, you will have a pleasant experience when you talk to someone. But there is a chance that they may not react in the way you hope. This may be because they are worried, or they may noy fully understand at first. If that is the case, try to give them time to process what you have told them. It might help to give them information to read to help them understand. And don’t forget to be kind to yourself and practice self-care.
Find advice on what to do here in a Mental Health crisis .
