Marking World Mental Health Day

SameYou is marking World Mental Health Day on Tuesday, October 10 to raise important awareness, drive positive change and rally support for those experiencing mental health issues.

Mental health affects how we think and feel, how we deal with stress and make healthy decisions.

For brain injury survivors, common issues can include anxiety, depression and anger, which should lead to vital support from clinical psychologists, neuropsychologists and talking therapies.

Yet, this year our partner, the World Health Organization, is calling for communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’ to outline how everyone should be able to access good quality care.

The WHO outlines that one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, well-being, how they connect with others and their livelihoods. But it says globally, many cannot access the mental health care they so desperately need - or are even discriminated against.

It’s SameYou’s mission to help brain injury survivors to access quality mental health treatment and make the best recovery possible.

Jenny Clarke, CEO and Co-Founder of SameYou, says: “This World Mental Health Day is important for SameYou to raise awareness of the need for better support. We have received thousands of stories from survivors that reveal they don’t have access to the adequate social and mental health rehabilitation they so desperately need."

“Many are ashamed of their brain injury due to societal stigma. Whatever the cause, survivors suffer issues similar to post-traumatic stress disorder as well as anxiety, fatigue and depression. We need to ensure that, worldwide, quality rehabilitation is in place for survivors.”

SameYou seed funds innovations in research and therapies, works with partners to deliver education programmes for healthcare professionals and enables real-time group rehabilitation services to revolutionise care.

Tips to help you feel happier, more in control and able to cope better:*

• Introduce regular exercise into your day to reduce stress
• For feelings of anxiety, try deep breathing techniques
• Do something you enjoy, like watching sport, soaking in a bath or meeting a friend
• Try to avoid activities that seem fun at the time, such as eating junk food or drinking alcohol
• Boost your own self-esteem by treating yourself as a valued friend, only telling yourself something positive, such as ‘you can do this’.
• Make sure you get enough sleep, around 7-8 hours. Write a to-do list to organise your thoughts and clear your mind to aid peaceful sleep
• Talk and share your thoughts with someone to release tension
• Build your resilience: Make something worthwhile out of painful times to help your resilience grow. Start a support group or help others

*Source: NHS