“Mental health awareness week will be taking place from 9^th to 15^th May 2022”

Nearly 500 people are severely affected by mental health illness, according to a study and an overwhelming majority of 88% said that the major cause of the widespread issue in England is due to the discrimination towards people affected by mental health.

 Although the levels of mental health problems have increased over the last few years, some people are still living with severe mental health. And so, mental health awareness week this year, we can talk about this.

The mental health awareness week is the annual opportunity for everyone to focus on talking about and achieving good mental health. It is all about emphasizing mental health and reflecting on the things that can affect our mental health in our day-to-day life.

The Mental Health Foundation proclaims ‘Loneliness’ as the theme for the year 2022. Therefore, the main focus will be on making connections with friends, family, colleagues and communities to encourage positive mental health.

Loneliness & Our Mental Health

Loneliness affects a lot of us at one time or another in everyday life. We all know that loneliness can be a product of poor mental health. The pandemic has given rise to a sense of loneliness undermining confidence in our daily routines. In recent times due to fast-growing tech, individuals have had far less access to their loved ones, and healthcare professionals do not need to travel to see the patients.

But on the flip side, all these facilities are driving more and more activities online. So is the case with the work environment. Businesses are adapting to home or hybrid working. This is a fruitful change for many workplaces but a lot of people are facing mental health issues as they feel disconnected from their colleagues.

Why Loneliness?

Loneliness is affecting more and more people in the UK which has a huge impact on physical and mental health. Having a good connection with people and community network. Effective communication is a good way to protect our mental health and tackle the epidemic of loneliness.

Therefore, raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on mental wellness is an integral part of this year’s mental health awareness.

What Causes Loneliness?

There can be different reasons for loneliness which may vary from person to person. It is indescribable how one may experience loneliness. But for some people, certain life events may make an individual lonely.

These are:

·         Experiencing sadness

·         Retiring or losing social contact you have had at work

·         Switching your job and feeling isolated from your co-workers

·         Moving to a new area, city, or country without your family or friends

Other scenarios in which people are more vulnerable to loneliness are:

·         Having no friends or family

·         Experiencing discrimination due to disability or other long-term health problems including mental health ailments

·         Experiencing discrimination due to gender or race

·         Belonging to a minority group

A few more reasons where people may experience loneliness despite having family or friends are being unable to like themselves or to be liked by others. It may also include a lack of self-confidence.

Ways to Encourage Mental Health Awareness Week

Some of the ways to help you and your organisations get the most out of this week are:

1.    Practice Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is a great way to promote positive mental health. A good way is by staying outdoors, it can help reduce stress and anxiety.

Start by taking a moment to feel and sense what is around you. You can also start by walking in the park or along the street. Paying attention to your breathing with slow, deep, and long breath can also help relax your mind.

2.    Encourage Thoughtfulness

Another way to promote mental wellness is by embracing thoughtfulness. It is also seen that those who connect more with nature have higher rates of good mental health. It is also a great way to embrace self-acceptance and feels more socially connected.

3.    Practice Serenity

Looking for ways to be more serene or practicing the habits of calmness is also another great way that helps encourage mental wellbeing. It helps to keep your mind more peaceful and productive.

As well as helps you feel socially active with your friends, family, colleagues or community network.

Mental Health Awareness Course

Businesses and organisations can also encourage positive mental health within their workplace by providing appropriate education guidance and mental health courses to their staff. It helps them become more aware of mental health issues, problems and ailments.  

Conclusion

This article explains in-depth mental health awareness week 2022. Moving ahead it describes the theme for this year, i.e., loneliness, why it occurs and how one can find ways to be more socially connected with their friends, family, social communities and networks. It further explains the importance of adequate staff training in this regard to promote positive mental health.