Extra, extra #1 mental health awareness week

more than just a small part of our lives. It’s connected to every little thing we do, every place we go and every person around us. – Mind

Hello my lovelies,

This week, as you may have guessed by my title, is MHAW. Now, I have for so many years, have held or attended events, this year I am without one so I thought I’d do a blog!

MHAW is exactly that: a time to shine a light on mental health and all the difficulties it can bring, providing emphasis on different themes. This year, it is community.

What is an awareness week?

Simply put, an awareness week focuses upon an important topic, whether health or social related, to put a spotlight on it. It can be generic or themed. With MHAW, there is always a theme. It initiates campaigns to embolden people to create conversations and change from not only the public but to institutions and on a global scale.

MHAW has been running a long time (24 years!), and now more than ever, it is needed. Mind, the mental health charity, are noticing a decline in attitudes, conversations, and actions. Many are feeling despondent despite the ever-rising climb in those experiencing poor mental health and mental illness.

Does it foster any change?

Undecided for many is the way I’d describe it. I have seen so many conversations online right now, and it is, well… vastly varied. I don’t mean to say this to act as a downpour of rain, but I feel that to enact change, we need to see all sides.

Many feel that their experiences aren’t fully recognised on any day of the year and are critical of the need for MHAW since they feel no benefit. They believe it is weaponised as a prop to make corporations feel good. However, there are many who see more optimism in that; there are discussions, there are people who care, people that believe change is slow, but that it must always start small.

For me? I see it as a gentle reminder that we are here in all our complexity and glory, facing much the same as those with good mental health, with added struggles. It is evidence we still face stigma (which I encountered myself quite badly a few weeks ago) and discrimination, that we have difficulties but are making the most of these reminders.

Awareness weeks are vital to me for proposing new thought, new action, and new information that is backed up by evidence. I am an open book of resources, I will always share my experiences, I want to make change and it does start with the most powerful thing of all, as dear Thay said: the sun of awareness. And as Andrea Walraven-Thissen puts it: a ministry of presence.

Awareness and presence together offers hope and respite for those of us who are unwell, we need support, we need community.

How is community relevant?

Well, my lovelies, it’s because community is one of the foundational building blocks of good mental health! It helps us to have strong connections and support from all those around us. The more connection, the more supported, the safer and more positive we are.

There are so many ways we have community, whether friends, family (of origin or chosen), places of faith, groups, work, and volunteering. It can even be gaming circles and online communities. It is about having a place to feel safe, secure, listened to, and validated. Somewhere you feel you can be your wholesome, beautiful self.

Communities don’t have to be these big splendour of people. If it is a few people and you feel the security, then that is enough. I myself have a small community. But I am supported in the ways I need to be.

By having all the grounding and meaningful (my favourite topic) connections we can, we are more likely to be able to find healthier and more sustainable ways of coping. It makes a huge difference in knowing the support is there, even when not needed. I know all too well what it’s like not having a community for extended periods, and I never felt more despondent. But I made change little by little, and now I flourish in my community.

Let this MHAW be a gentle reminder that those of us with mental illness exist, we hurt, we thrive, we struggle, we exist. You can help by having the sun of awareness shining and burning, and by being a ministry of presence.