World Mental Health Day 2020

It's October 10th 2020. Today is World Mental Health Awareness day. Here’s some quick fire questions to set the scene:

What is mental health? It involves our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and it affects how we think, feel, and act. This article by the BBC covers the topic of mental health by providing statics and key definitions.

What is World Mental Health Day? It's a day for education, reducing social stigma, and creating awareness on the effects that Mental Health has on peoples' lives all over the world.

Where did this come from? In 1992, the first World Mental Health day was celebrated by the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organisation with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.

Now that I've set the scene here's three things we'll be talking about this World Mental Health Awareness Day:

• Messy4Mind

• Resources

• First hand experiences

Big love from Team INC360. We hope that on this World Mental Health Awareness day, during 2020 - a year that has thrown so many unexpected curveballs for the world - that you are able to spread awareness and celebrate every little success you’ve had around your own mental health challenges. Given the state of the world this year with a global pandemic resulting in significant changes to lives all over the world, it's more important than ever to keep the conversation going around Mental Health.

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Messy4Mind

All year around, outside of world mental health awareness day, our friend Tom Mills over at Messy4Mind runs a great challenge. The challenge is simple - get messy to spread awareness of mental health. As of writing, over 300 people have complete the challenge. So hopefully you are reading this with the expectation that Team INC360 completed the challenge too. Here’s our attempt - if nothing else the garden got very messy for Mind.

We’d encourage you to take part in the challenge yourself and don’t forget to tag #messy4mind in your efforts.

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Reema's Rambles

Here’s a video of me explaining why I joined INC360 and how this ties in with my personal experiences. I hope that this short video of me sharing my experiences will provide some encouragement for you to share your own, if you are in a position to do so.

Whilst I have been able to acknowledge my mental health challenges and know some of the key triggers and remedies for my brain box, there are some days that are easier than others. It can take some time to find these techniques to provide yourself a break from the challenges of mental health. I have gotten myself down that some days these techniques work and others they don't. I have come to accept that my mental health condition is a part of me and that I will always be learning about it and how to live with it.

Here are two things that I do to look after my brain box when it's going through the wars.

Having a change of scene. Getting out into nature is one of my favourite things to do. Whilst this is something that may be mentioned on many mental health related posts across the internet, I find it really does make a difference. Even if it's just stepping outside of the room to get some fresh air, a change of scene can provide my brain a much needed break from whatever it is preoccupied with.

Having responsibility.

Note: this is a very personal one to me and could look quite different for other people. Having our honorary Team INC member, Matty, who is first and foremost my lovely fluffy doggo, really helps me to have some focus. When I drift off into the unproductive headspace that depression can bring around, seeing his smiley face looking up at me and wondering where his food is and why we haven't been for a walk yet is a great motivator to get up and get moving! In many senses, he's a superhero doggo whose special power is a winning smile that helps provide positive energy to my brain box.

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Mental Health Resources

Mental Health covers a very wide range of conditions. There are a number of ways in which you can reach resources to support you in your journey. Here are a very small selection of online resources that can help provide some advice and direction if you're in need of some support.

Action for Children - Supporting Children and Young Peoples Mental Health

NHS Mental Health and Wellbeing page

NHS Mental Health Mood Self Assessment

Mental Health Foundation - World Mental Health Day Resources

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Thanks for sticking around if you read this far. Steph and I would love to hear what things you do to give your mental health some comfort and support. Take care of yourselves and of each other.

Reema