According to NHS Digital, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week in the UK.
On 7 February 2019, the UK acknowledges Time to Talk Day (TTTD) – a campaign created by UK mental health charity Time to Change.
What is Time to Talk Day?
TTTD is a national awareness day, aimed at encouraging people in the UK to talk more openly about their mental health. The campaign started in 2014 and has since become a significant date in the wellbeing calendar thanks to Time to Change’s efforts.
In 2019, Time to Change are inviting people to simply hold more conversations on their mental health – whether it be at work, home or within their local community.
What causes poor mental health?
There is no single cause for mental health disorders; instead, they can be caused by a mixture of biological, psychological and environmental factors.
The following factors could potentially result in a period of poor mental health:
Childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect
Experiencing discrimination and stigma
Drug and alcohol abuse
Suffering from bereavement
Severe or long-term stress
Domestic violence, bullying or other abuse as an adult
The signs & symptoms
Mental health problems can cover a broad range of disorders, but the common characteristic is that they all affect the affected person’s personality, thought processes or social interactions. Unlike many physical illnesses, mental health issues can be difficult to clearly diagnose.
Examples of signs and symptoms include:
Feeling sad or down
Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
Withdrawal from friends and activities
Sex drive changes
Excessive anger, hostility or violence
Did you know?
– Mental health is the single largest cause of disability in the UK.
– Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.
– One in eight people aged under 19 in England have a mental health disorder.
– Mixed anxiety and depression has been estimated to cause one fifth of days lost from work in Britain.
For more information about the Time to Talk Day or for support available through Time to Change visit their website here.