Mental Health Awareness Week was held in the United Kingdom from May 13 to 19, 2024. This year, under the slogan “Movement: Let’s move more for our mental health”, a week was dedicated to highlighting the importance of mental health and promoting concrete actions to improve it.
Since 2001, the Mental Health Foundation has organized Mental Health Awareness Week in the United Kingdom, focusing on what can be done to improve mental health. Every May, millions of people from all walks of life take part in this initiative. From schools and higher education, to the public, private and NGO sectors, as well as families and individuals.
All with the aim of highlighting the idea that mental health is everyone’s business.
Let’s move more for our mental health
This year, under the theme “Movement: Let’s move more for our mental health,” the benefits of physical activity and movement for mental well-being are highlighted. This integrated approach recognizes the connection between the body and mind, promoting an active lifestyle as a powerful tool for maintaining good mental health.
During this special week, a variety of actions are taking place across the country. From activities in schools to media campaigns, including the prestigious BBC, awareness messages are being disseminated and resources are being promoted to support the mental health of all citizens.
It is in this context, and taking advantage of it being an election year in the UK, that the Mental Illness Foundation has made an urgent appeal to UK politicians to prioritize mental health in their political agendas. At a time when society is facing unprecedented challenges, it is essential to recognize and address the mental health needs of the population.
These are the demands they have made to politicians to include in their election manifestos and government plans.
- Support mental health at all stages, including young parents and babies.
- Protect children’s mental health by making sure schools are mentally healthy places.
- Help people get good jobs with decent wages and conditions.
- Work to combat racism, homophobia and all other forms of discrimination.
- Ensure that everyone can enjoy nature and participate in physical activities.
- Protect people from harmful consumption of junk food, tobacco, alcohol abuse and gambling.
- Develop a comprehensive and cross-cutting plan, with the necessary funding, to prevent mental health problems.
The Foundation asserts that the current situation in the UK is worrying. While significant progress has been made in improving physical health, mental health is in decline. Levels of mental ill health are huge and rising, with millions of people on waiting lists for NHS care. The prevalence of mental disorders among young people is particularly alarming, having increased substantially in recent years.
The Foundation stresses that prevention of many mental health problems is possible, and that the environment in which people are born, grow up, study, live and work has a powerful impact on their mental health. That is why it urges the government to intervene at all levels to ensure an environment conducive to good mental health.
However, funding for measures to improve the mental health of the population is limited, and so they make the call for a fundamental change in the way investment is conceived, with a focus on prevention and the creation of a dedicated funding stream for this purpose.
In light of the upcoming elections, the Foundation calls on all candidates to commit to the cause of mental health and work together to build a more mentally healthy society. Elected politicians, they say, have a responsibility to push for a detailed, long-term plan that addresses all facets of mental health, from supporting parents to eliminating discrimination in all its forms.
Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to reflect on all of this, educate and take concrete steps toward a more mentally healthy society.
It is time, they say, to join forces, promote open dialogue and work together to build a future where everyone can thrive mentally.
What would you ask of your country’s politicians?
