Public Health Agency calls for the ‘tables to be turned’ on mental ill health statistics

Public Health Agency calls for the ‘tables to be turned’ on mental ill health statistics

As World Mental Health Day 2010 approaches on Sunday 10 October, the Public Health Agency (PHA) acknowledges the challenges facing individuals, communities, voluntary, statutory and government organisations in tackling mental ill health.

With at least 1 in 5 people experiencing mental ill health at some stage in their lives, the PHA acknowledges that the main challenges are supporting those people looking for help while ensuring that, from the earliest opportunity, young people start life developing emotional resilience, to equip them to make the most of their opportunities.

Speaking ahead of World Mental Health Day, Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive, PHA, said: “We all know someone who has experienced mental ill health and thankfully, due to investment in the combined efforts of community, voluntary and statutory organisations, recovery is now within reach of many more individuals. However, much more can be done to develop work with children and young people to ‘turn the tables’, so that the adults of the future don’t feature in the statistics on mental ill health.

"How much better would it be if we could prevent the distress caused by mental illness to children, parents and wider communities? Building the resilience of our young people would help to ensure that what can be prevented doesn’t happen. Instead of potential lives and opportunities lost, we can equip the adults of tomorrow to look after their mental health, the way many of us are now protecting our physical health. That is where our future mental health investments will reap the most dividends.”

Over the next weeks a range of events and initiatives funded and facilitated by the PHA, specifically to highlight World Mental Health Day, will take place across Northern Ireland. Among these are the Royal College of Psychiatrists ‘Schools Event’ at the Odyssey cinema; a series of lectures by Professor Hugh McKenna, University of Ulster, as part of the Mental Health Promotion Network’s celebrations and Mental Health First Aid training, in partnership with Unison.

During this period the award-winning, multimedia PHA mental health campaign ‘Don’t cover up your problems’ will continue on Radio and TV.

Further information, help and advice on mental health can be found at www.mindingyourhead.info.

For Lifeline, the 24hr crisis helpline, telephone: 0808 808 8000.
 

Further information

Contact PHA Press Office, Ormeau Avenue on 028 9031 1611

Notes to the editor

 

1. World Mental Health Day was started by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. It is a unified effort to promote greater public awareness and understanding of mental health and mental illness. Every year, thousands of people across the world raise awareness and funds for mental health causes.

2. The Public Health Agency works to improve the mental wellbeing of the population and reduce suicide and self-harm.

Based on the recent review of the evidence commissioned by the Suicide Strategy Implementation Board, we will direct our available resources towards:

• increasing public awareness of mental ill health and how to get help;
• enabling health and social care professionals, and key individuals in communities, to recognise mental ill health in others and know how to respond;
• expanding the capacity of counselling services from community and voluntary sector providers;
• funding the Lifeline service;
• working through the Bamford Taskforce to improve the quality and capacity of statutory mental health services;
• investing in early child development programmes which will be an important first step towards building resilience in the next generation;
• establishing a deliberate self-harm registry pilot in the Belfast HSCT;
• producing an action plan to implement recommendations arising from mental health promotion/suicide prevention training in Northern Ireland.

3. Top tips for your mental health can be found on the PHA website www.mindingyourhead.info:

• Keep active - regular exercise can help you feel more positive.
• Get involved - join a club, meet up with friends, do a course, learn something new.
• Accept yourself - we’re all different and nobody’s perfect.
• Relax and get a good night’s sleep - if too much busyness is getting you down, make time to relax and unwind.
• Drink in moderation - overdoing it can make things worse.
• Eat healthily - it will help you feel better and give you more energy.
• Recognise the signs - being mentally healthy means being able to deal with daily pressures; if you feel you can’t cope, or are turning to alcohol or drugs to get by, you may have a problem you need help with.
• Ask for help - if you were feeling physically sick you’d see a doctor; don’t be embarrassed about seeking help for a mental health problem.

4. The Lifeline helpline can be contacted at 0808 808 8000

5. Pictured signing the pledge ‘Not to make fun of mental illness’ are (L-R) Mary-Kate O’Neill, St Dominic’s School for Girls, Belfast; Meabh Harper, speaking at the event about stigma and her own recovery; Laurie-Anne Bartsch, St Dominic’s; Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and Dr Edie Rooney, Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency, part funder of the schools' event at the Odyssey, 8 October. Mary-Kate and Laurie-Anne presented their prize-winning talk: ‘Youth suicide and how to get help’ at the event.