Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation,  Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 13-19 May 2019.

The theme this year is Body Image – how we think and feel about our bodies.

Body image issues can affect all of us at any age. During the week the Mental Health Foundation are publishing new research and campaigning for change.

Over a third of all UK adults have experienced anxiety or depression due to concerns about their body image. With social media attributing to 1 in 5 UK adults experiencing worry and concern about their body image following images posted on social media. It is easy to see how our body image can affect us on a daily basis and affect our mental health. Campaigners are highlighting the need for everyone to Be Body Kind and using effective regulation on how body image is portrayed. We all have a role to play in this to make change now and in the future.

Mental Health problems can affect us all at any time of our lives. You don’t need to suffer in silence, help is out there:

The charity Mind provide information and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They also offer top tips on how to support someone who is affected and they offer a help-line and legal-line to offer advice. Click HERE to find full information and resources on the Mind website.

The Samaritans offer a free helpline 24 hours a day , where calls are taken in confidence.

• Call 116 123 

Rethink Mental Illness is a charity who offer advice, information and support in your local area. Click HERE to be directed to their website.

A new service which has just been launched (May 2019) is ‘Shout for support in crisis’. This is the UK’s free 24/7 text service for anyone who is in crisis at any time.
To get confidential help in a crisis text 85258.
If your life is in imminent danger dial 999 for emergency help.

You can find out more about the crisi text line HERE

Further information about the Mental Health Foundation can be found HERE

#BeBodyKind

Rare Disease UK Report on Mental Health Impact

With many rare diseases being chronic, complex and often taking many years to diagnose, the effect on our mental health can’t be underestimated. Living with a rare condition can have a huge impact on our lives, including anxiety, stress, low mood, emotional exhaustion and suicidal thoughts, for both the patient and the carer.

Our mental wellbeing is just as important as our physical health and Rare Disease UK set-out in 2018 to explore this further.

In 2018, Rare Disease UK published a report on the mental health impact of living with a rare disease. It sets out it’s findings and recommendations.   You can read the full report here