Today is World Mental Health day. The theme for this year is 'Mental health is a universal human right'. The World Federation for Mental Health states;
'This year’s theme enables us to re-double our efforts to ensure that everybody should receive quality mental health care and that the human rights and well-being of people with mental illness are respected in all parts of the world so that every person with a mental health difficulty has:
The right to be protected from known harms to mental health; a universal right which applies to the entire population, but especially the vulnerable including children, minorities and the displaced peoples.
The right to access quality and affordable care when a person is struggling with their mental health.
The right to freedom and dignity, including the right of choice'.
Mental health support is getting better but it is still often secondary to physical health support. Many people still believe that they should keep their mental health concerns a secret. This stigma is changing but there is still a long way to go and this makes me sad.
Someone yesterday asked me whether I was busy. My unfortunate response was 'yes'. I would be happy in a world where people did not experience trauma, where depression and anxiety did not exist. However this is not the world we live in. I can hopefully support those who do suffer. I can help people work through their troubles and find ways to live their life without being suffocated by trauma. I am proud to be part of the solution. I am a small cog in a big wheel and this suits me fine.
It is important for me to look after my own mental health. To check in how I am feeling, and make changes when I need to. I have a great support network, my family, friends, my supervision group. You all play a part in keeping me well. Today I am looking after myself with a spa day. I would like to say that this date was chosen deliberately, but I would be lying if I did. I will enjoy it all the same and feel mentally refreshed afterwards.
We had a lush day, missed one due to being poorly 😢. Thank you to Julie and Grace for giving her a credit to come to The Belfry another time. More acts of kindness are what the world needs.
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