Mental Health Awareness Week 15-21 May

Mental Health Awareness Week 15 – 21 May

Mental Health Awareness Week is 15-21 May 2023. The theme for this year is ‘Anxiety.’ Mental health Awareness week is an event that is run annually by the Mental Health Foundation. For the last 20 years it has given the UK a chance to focus in on issues around mental health and look at how we as a nation can work towards better mental health.

Mental Health Awareness Week 15-21 May


The Mental Health Foundation say the following about anxiety.

Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.

Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food.

This last sentiment seems particularly poignant in the midst of the cost of living crisis we are experiencing in the UK at the moment.

Focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, we will keep up the pressure to demand change – making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole.

We often feel anxious about things that are uncertain and that we cannot control. Sometimes we can do something proactive to alter or manage the situation in front of us. For instance, with the cost of living crisis and the anxieties we may all feel around money and being able to meet our needs and the needs of our families, we may; look at our budgets, look at ways to cut back and save money, make changes in our utilities providers, stop subscriptions to services, change our entertainment habits and do extra shifts to earn more money.

However, sometimes no matter what we proactively do, we might still feel anxiety and worry. Being able to manage this anxiety so that it doesn’t become overwhelming can be important. Below are links to this website and other websites that can offer hints and tips on how to manage feelings of anxiety.

Mental Health Foundation – What can we do to cope with feelings of anxiety?

The Cost of Living and your Mental Health

Perfectionism and Anxiety, being ok with being good enough

Anxiety and Catastrophising

Managing Anxiety – 3 Quick Tips

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