Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. This is an annual event for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. The Mental Health Foundation started the event 22 years ago and each year they set the theme, organise and host the week.

Anxiety:

This year’s theme is anxiety. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but it can sometimes get out of control and become a mental health problem. Focusing on anxiety this year will increase people’s awareness of it by providing information on things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem 💚

What is anxiety really?

Anxiety is a common emotion we’ve likely all experienced in our lives. People living with an anxiety disorder feel more intense levels of anxiety frequently, which can deeply impact their quality of life. Phrases like someone is “just stressed” or “just worried” can be harmful and we want to challenge this notion!

Types of anxiety:

Common types of anxiety disorders include:

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Phobias
• Separation anxiety

Anxiety in the UK:

• 1 in 10 people in the UK are experiencing anxiety
• 60% of employees are experiencing anxiety
• 67% of employees aged 16-24 are experiencing anxiety
• 65% of females are experiencing anxiety
• Only 10% of employees are seeking mental health support

How to cope with anxiety:

🫁 Focus on your breathing: concentrate on the feeling of your body as you breathe in and out

🚶‍♂️ Get moving: try gentle stretches or a walk

✍️ Keep a diary: understand your triggers

🌳 Spend time in nature: this has a positive impact on overall mental health!

💬 Connect with people and talk about how you feel

💪 Try to eat a healthy diet