I’m going to put myself out on a limb here and bet that any reader visiting this post will have either experienced mental illness or knows at least one person who has. If you find yourself nodding, it will come as no surprise that one in four people will experience a mental health problem in the course of a year or that mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain.
It doesn’t matter how tough or balanced you think you are. Issues like anxiety and depression can suddenly break through your natural barriers, impacting upon your mental wellbeing, physical health and relationships.
As today is World Mental Health Day, there’s no better opportunity to raise awareness and reaffirm that even if you think there is nowhere to turn, there are local people and organisations out there that that will listen and can help - and of course, we can also help each other too, by taking time out to care about the issue.
I recently caught up with one lady in Suffolk, Tina Gibbons, who has not just experienced mental illness herself, but has demonstrated how she has pulled through to become an inspirational leader in her community, setting up The Mind Sanctuary, an online website dedicated to inspiring and empowering individuals to become masters of their own emotional wellbeing.
Tina explains, “The Mind Sanctuary was born out of my own journey through mental illness and my need to manage my mental health on an ongoing basis. Having experienced quite severe mental illness over 10 years ago, I was on medication for approximately three years with a prescription of mood stabilisers and anti-depressants - along with a diagnosis of "potential" bipolar disorder. I have now been managing my mental health without medication for over eight years, using a combination of approaches such as lifestyle choices, diet, yoga, nature and self awareness.”
She asserts that there is no single cure to suit all when it comes to mental health and we all have mental health in the same way that we have physical health. Indeed nobody is immune. The Mind Sanctuary seeks to bring everything together under one umbrella so that people can find the support they need - when they need it - wherever they are on their journey.
Tina tells me, “I try to empower others by publishing inspiring articles along with a directory of therapeutic activities, complementary therapists, counsellors, coaches and traditional mental health services - bringing together the public, public voluntary and private sectors, thus bridging the gap between clinical and holistic approaches to emotional well-being and mental health.”
October is an important month for mental health awareness and World Mental Health Day is only one aspect of Tina’s work. She has also joined forces with two local business women - Rachel Ducker and Helen Oldfield – creating a Random Acts of Kindness Day, which coincides with World Health Day and supports her county’s Health and Wellbeing Month. The aim is to attract support from the public and business community and to promote Suffolk as the kindest county in the UK, a quality that Tina believes is significant to people’s well-being.
“Kindness has touched me in many ways along my journey to wellness and I continue to be blessed by kindness on a regular basis,” says Tina. “To receive kindness improves your self esteem and connects you with people. It makes you think that at least someone believes you're worth it and restores faith in society and the human race.”
“The act of giving kindness also has a positive impact on our own wellbeing, triggering the reward areas of the brain to stimulate positive feelings. I can think of no better way to celebrate World Mental Health Day than to put kindness in the spotlight. Let's face it the more kindness we are all exposed to, the better we all feel - mentally and emotionally.”
Although Tina’s initiative is based in one corner of our country, there is no reason at all why the whole country couldn’t celebrate the idea, especially at this time of year.
And of course if kindness is your passion, it’s good to know that there’s even a World Kindness Movement that promotes an annual World Kindness Day, which this year will be held on 13 November and is promoted nationally by Kindness Day UK.
There are lots of ways to show your support for friends, family and colleagues who might have even suffered mental health problems without your knowledge, so a little help really does go a long way, whether it’s paying them an unexpected compliment or helping out with an extra favour.
There’s plenty of inspiration online and if you’re seeking advice for yourself or a friend, please check out The Mind Sanctuary, which has many links to national organisations. For further information, another great site is the Mental Health Foundation, the UK’s leading research mental health research, policy and service improvement charity.
Useful links:
The Mind Sanctuary: www.themindsanctuary.com
The Mental Health Foundation: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Kindness Day UK: www.kindnessdayuk.com
UK Kindness Movement: www.ukkindnessmovement.org
World Kindness Movement: www.worldkindness.org.sg
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About the author
Describing herself as a philanthropic housewife, Karen balances the challenges of modern parenthood with support for community projects and freelance writing, with an emphasis on mainstream, yet sustainable lifestyle issues. She's also the creator of The Rubbish Diet blog and a frequent contributor to BBC local radio. To find out more about Karen, just visit www.karencannard.co.uk.
