Bath & North East Somerset Council is supporting the first national NHS mental health campaign, ‘Every Mind Matters’, which encourages adults to be more aware of their mental health and wellbeing.
Every Mind Matters offers a range of useful resources to help spot the signs of common mental health concerns.
It provides practical self-care tips, guidance and, importantly, explains when to seek further support.
There are also links to local sources of support for issues that can impact on our mental health such as relationships and family life, money worries, housing and employment.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is supporting the campaign by providing access on its website to a free NHS-approved online tool, designed to help residents build an action plan to deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, improve their sleep and advice on habits to practice regularly for good mental health.
The council has also signed the ‘Time to Change’ employers health pledge, a campaign to end stigma and discrimination about mental health.
Councillor Rob Appleyard, cabinet member for Adult Services, said: “Mental health directly affects our overall health and wellbeing, and can impact on our quality of life as well as on our ability to work.
“We don’t need to wait until we are struggling with our mental health; there are lots of things we can do to protect ourselves and prevent problems escalating, just as we do with our physical health.
“Mental illness costs communities and businesses an estimated £105 billion annually. The government review, ‘Thriving at work: a review of mental health and employers’, recommended that as well as providing good jobs, employers should ensure their employees have the knowledge, tools and confidence to look after their own mental health and those around them.
“I’d urge all businesses in every sector to follow this recommendation and sign the ‘Time to Change’ pledge and promote the use of the Every Mind Matters online tool.”
Kate Morton, from Bath Mind, said: ‘‘All of us at some point in our lives will experience mental ill-health.
Therefore, it is imperative to equip people with information and guidance to enable them to take proactive steps in improving their own physical and mental wellbeing.
“We all have mental health and we all have periods where this can fluctuate, yet 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems say they face stigma and discrimination as a result.
“The new Every Mind Matters tool will help people maintain their own mental health and support those around them – at work, at home and in the community.’
To learn more about how to look after your mental health and create your own action plan, visit: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/public-health/one-you/every-mind-matters
