Mental Health

An estimated one in 20 people will have serious - or clinical - depression at any one time. By the year 2020, it has been estimated that clinical depression will be second only to chronic heart disease as an international health burden. This is measured by its cause of death, disability, incapacity to work and the medical resources it uses.

Mental Health Action Week - April 8th-14th

Mental Health Action week is run by the Mental Health Foundation www.mentalhealth.org.uk and aims to promote awareness around the issues of mental ill health to the general population in all area’s of activity by reaching individuals, organisation’s and workplaces.

Within the mental health foundation there are a number of teams which aim to achieve the following:

• Undertake research
• Develop services
• Design training
• Influence policy
• Raise public awareness

Useful links

• www.mindfulemployer.net - Increasing awareness of mental health at work and providing support for businesses and staff.
• www.workorganisation.org.uk - The work organization assessment tool aims to help managers identify the issues that make staff stressed.
• www.shift.org.uk - Tackling stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health issues
• www.scmh.org.uk - The Sainsbury’s Centre for Mental Health
• www.depressionalliance.org - Provides publications on various aspects of depression and a written advisory service offering support and understanding. Produce an extensive quarterly newsletter, which includes information and suggestions from members about how best to manage depression. Their annual National Depression Campaign aims to increase awareness of depression and its symptoms, people who may be depressed to seek help.
• www.mdf.org.uk - Self-help organisation for people with manic depression, their relatives and friends. Has a network of 150 support groups. Quarterly journal, factsheets and publications available.
• www.mind.org.uk - Mind works for everyone in emotional distress, campaigning for rights and developing locally based services. Mind's national Info Line covers all aspects of mental health including advocacy, treatments and therapies.
• www.rethink.org - Rethink is the new operating name for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship (NSF), providing quality support, services and information to anyone affected by schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses.
• www.hse.gov.uk - Employment medical and advisory service – EMAS aims to provide free advice and support to employers and employees regarding work related medical problems including mental health problems.