1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.
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2016 statistics:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder: 5.9 in 100 people
Depression: 3.3 in 100 people
Phobias: 2.4 in 100 people
OCD: 1.3 in 100 people
Panic Disorder: 0.6 in 1000 people
PTSD: 4.4 in 100 people
Anxiety & Depression: 7.8 in 100 people
Suicidal thoughts: 20.6 in 100 people
Suicide attempts: 6.7 in 100 people
Self-harm: 7.3 in 100 people
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Mental Health Matters
Mental health matters to everyone. Individuals, the community and society as a whole. Despite people being far more open about mental health in recent years, there is still a lot of stigma.
Stigma can, amongst other things, deter people from seeking help and support for their mental health problems, promote a culture of blame and cause social isolation and loneliness.
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#EndTheStigma
Taking action and raising awareness for mental health can irradiate the stigma and improve chances of recovery. So, here are three simple things you can do to irradiate the stigma.
▹ Learn ◃
Knowledge leads to understanding. Often the stigma related to mental illness is a subject of fear. Fear is a consequence of misunderstandings and a lack of knowledge about the subject. Educate yourself, and encourage others too.
▹ Talk ◃
Be open and honest about your experiences with mental illness. Spreading the word helps to raise awareness which will hopefully make a difference.
▹ Understand ◃
Look beyond the illness and see the person. Do not put people in a box. Strive to listen to people’s stories and be understanding. Be empathetic, kind and thoughtful.
Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week by practising these three simple things and #endthestigma
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If you are affected by any of the things discussed in this article you can find support and advice through NHS Choices Helplines.
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