Celebrate World Mental Health Day side by side
You can smile again
WE all have minds. So I guess you could say we’re all mental. The question is whether we have good or poor mental health?
And contrary to long-held common beliefs, we are all susceptible to a whole range of psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, panic attacks, stress, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and post traumatic stress disorder at any time in our lives.
And if you suffer with any of the above, it does not mean you are a freak – it just means you are alive! Birth, death, love, heartbreak, promotion, redundancy, adventure, abuse. Life is a rollercoaster with ups and downs, thrills and nightmares. The key is learning to manage what is thrown at you as best you can. And in this day and age there is plenty we can all do to overcome or manage our mental health issues.
And as such, next week the Department of Health’s Mental Health Service will be holding a series of events to celebrate World Mental Health Day.
Member for Mental Health Services Leonard Singer MHK explained: ‘Each year the department celebrates World Mental Health Day and each year brings new challenges and ideas for how we can raise the profile of mental health. Statistically one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives.
‘A survey of 1,000 island residents in 2011 showed that 35 per cent of those interviewed, care for or are a relative of someone who has/had a mental health problem and 44 per cent have a friend who has/had a mental health problem.’
The week of events, will explore some of the ways in which general mental health and wellbeing can be improved. It will start off with exhibitions of art and creative writing, mainly by people with experience of mental health issues, at various venues around the island. Also there’ll be Laughology sessions and talks on mindfulness and money management. On the day itself (Wednesday), a Service Users’ Network (SUN) conference will explore a decade of service user involvement and a public information stand by Praxis will be at the Strand Shopping Centre.
Julie Bennion, specialist in mental health promotion, said: ‘Each year, World Mental Health Day provides us with the opportunity to focus on mental health and to raise the issues and confront the stereotypes.
‘In a unified effort across the world thousands of people will be taking part in events to promote greater awareness and understanding of mental health.
‘The social stigma attached to mental health problems and the discrimination people may often experience can make their situation worse and more challenging for them to recover. However, the more we talk and the more we provide information on mental health, the greater the understanding will be.’
The Mental Health Service has also chosen the theme of ‘recovery’ for the week of events. Recovery in mental health has been defined as ‘living a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life even with limitations caused by the illness, developing new meaning and purpose in life as a person grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness’.
There are many things that can help recovery such as supportive family and friends, support and treatment from professionals, social activities, and help with addressing social problems, such as money worries. Relaxation and doing things which are enjoyable and improve overall wellbeing, such as physical exercise are also beneficial.
The World Mental Health Federation has chosen depression as the theme for World Mental Health Day.
Depression is a common mental health problem that can have significant impact on the individual and their family, yet it is a disorder that can be successfully treated, and individuals experiencing depression can and do recover.
Family members and friends can be an enormous help to a person dealing with depression. There are also GPs, mental health professionals and third sector agencies available to help.
At each of the week’s venues there will be information on wellbeing, tips for mental health, depression and recovery.
The full programme of events is available at www.gov.im/health/services/mentalh
Programme of Events:
Monday, October 8
• 9.30am-12.30pm and 1pm-4pm: Laughology sessions with Stephanie Davies, an award-winning Manx-raised comedian, turned psychologist. At the iMuseum in Douglas. To book call Julie on 642837.
• 10am-12pm: Walk and Talk in Castletown. No booking required. Visit www.gov.im/sport/SportsDevelopment/Activities_for_Adults/walkandtalk.xml
• 4.15pm-5pm: Introduction to Mindfulness with Julie Bibby, Isle of Man College student welfare officer at The Nunnery (for students and staff only). No booking required. Contact Julie Bibby on 648284.
Tuesday, October 9
• 1.30pm-2.15pm: Music and Emotions - an audio visual presentation at the iMuseum. No booking required.
• 5.30pm-7.30pm: Walk and Talk in Douglas. No booking required.
• 6pm-7pm: Introduction to Mindfulness with Julie Bibby, at the college main campus (open to the public). No booking required. Call Julie on 648284.
Wednesday, October 10
• 9am-4pm: SUN Conference, A Decade of Service User Involvement, at the Keyll Darree Lecture Theatre, Noble’s Hospital. To book email serviceusersnetwork@manx.net or call 457756.
• 9am-5pm: World Mental Health Day public information in the Strand Shopping Centre. Includes balloon modelling by the simplystupidagency at 12pm.
• 12pm-2pm: The Benefits of Journaling with Cathy Radcliffe and Julie Bibby at the Isle of Man College main campus.
• 10am-11am: Money Management with Andrea Tabb, of the IoM Office of Fair Trading, at the Central Community Health Centre, Douglas. No booking required.
• 10am-11.30am: Walk and Talk in Ramsey. No booking required.
Thursday, October 11
• 10am-11am: Money Management with Andrea Tabb, at the Central Community Health Centre, Douglas. No booking required.
• 10am-11.30am: Walk and Talk in Peel. Visit www.gov.im/SportsDevelopment/Activitiesforadults /walkandtalk.xml
• 9.30am-11.30am: Walk and Talk in Douglas.
• 12.30pm-1.15pm: Introduction to Mindfulness with Julie Bibby, at the IoM College (for students and staff only). No booking required. Call Julie on 648284.
• 1.30pm-3.30pm: Guitar Workshop at the iMuseum with hosts John Gregory and Kenny McAllister. Bring along your own acoustic guitar if you can. To book a place call Julie Bennion 642837.
Friday, October 12
• 8pm: Music Night at Amber Bar in Douglas.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
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Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
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