13/05/2025
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 🧠
🔄 Mental health is complex and includes a wide range of conditions, many of which are poorly understood and attract stigma. One of the most common misconceptions is that mental health is binary, with people being either 'healthy' or 'ill'. Instead, it exists on an ever-changing continuum – someone with a diagnosed condition can demonstrate positive wellbeing and, indeed, be considered to be thriving. Likewise, there are times when someone without any diagnosis may find themselves to be struggling or in crisis.
❤️ There are numerous factors that can impact where we sit on the continuum at any given time, including life experiences, social support and individual coping mechanisms.
🤝 Everyone experiences a range of mental wellbeing states over the course of their lifetime, from thriving to struggling or even into crisis, and knowing where you are in the spectrum can help you to identify times when you might need extra support.
If you are struggling or in crisis, there are a number of organisations you can reach out to, including...
➡️ Your GP or the NHS 111 phone line out of hours
➡️ Your local NHS urgent mental health helpline
➡️ The Riders Minds free support line on 0800 088 2073
➡️ The Samaritans free helpline on 116 123
➡️ 999 or your local A&E department
