Around 1 in 4 of us in the UK will suffer from a mental illness at some point in our lives... 25%!!! It is so important that we increase awareness of poor mental health and the conditions people suffer from, but more than anything else, it is VITAL to raise awareness. The less stigmatised mental health conditions are, the more likely people are to talk about how they're feeling.. Something that is increasingly important.
As much as social media can be a wonderful way of developing new knowledge and keeping in touch with friends and family, we all know it can also have a negative connotations. Personally, my advice would be to try and remember that social media isn't everything. Everyone can filter and edit and crop away until they have the 'perfect' life, which, lets be honest, no-one actually has. Make sure you're following or friends with people that have a positive impact on your timeline and make you feel happy - try to remove/unfollow negativity from your profiles.. It's just not worth it! Always remember your number of followers doesn't equal your worth or the quality of your posts!
We are all also dealing with unprecedented circumstances in the form of a global pandemic, which is of course going to affect both our mental and physical health. Everyone must remember that this is OKAY!! No-one is going to be feeling 100% all of the time, especially in such strange times. My advice would be, as hard as it is, make sure you're keeping in regular contact with your friends and family, including video chats! It's also so important to get dressed every day (even if it's just into day PJ's!) to separate day from night. If you can, also try and maintain a 'normal' sleeping pattern, and try and get at least some fresh air.. Even if this just involves opening your windows for an hour each day!
Finally, it's really important to check up on others too. Especially if they've changed any form of behaviour recently. This could include not replying to texts/messages, changing their attitude, being more distant or changes in their eating/increased alcohol consumption. It only takes a minute to message someone, but starting that conversation could make all the difference!
I am by no means an expert on this topic, and if you or anybody else needs help or support, there is lots out there, from phone lines, to online chats, to medical diagnosis. It is by no means an extensive list, but I will leave some links at the bottom of this post for anybody that feels they want to explore different support options further!
I know mental illness is such a difficult topic, but the more we talk about it, the more likely people are to discuss how they're feeling! It is so important we banish the stigma around poor mental health and now, more than ever, we need to pull together and support each other!
As always, any comments or messages are welcome!
Stay safe and keep talking.
B x
SANE helpline - 0300 304 7000
Samaritans - 116 123
MIND - 0300 123 3393
National domestic abuse helpline - 0808 2000 247
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