Mental Health Awareness Matters

When the opportunity arose for me to take on the Mental Health First Aider role, I jumped at the chance to be able to support any of my colleagues should they need it.

The 2-day course was challenging and very informative highlighting the need for every workplace to have something in place for their team.

I learned on the course that everyone has mental health and how it affects the way we all think, feel, and act. It also determines how we handle different levels of stress in our lives and how we relate to others.

What is a Mental Health First Aider?

A Mental Health First Aider is as important as a Physical First Aider. A MHFAider is there to help individuals dealing with emotional stress, anxiety, depression, and wellbeing issues using tools such as the mental health continuum.

You do not want your hard-working people to ever suffer in silence. A MHFAider listens in a confidential space and receives training to spot early signs of poor mental health at work. They can also guide someone to get the right support if necessary.

Awareness

Mental Health is more prevalent today with more awareness around it and the following statistics highlight this –

• Approximately 1 in 4 adults in England will experience a mental health problem each year.

• Women are more likely than men to experience common mental health problems, with 20.7% of women and 13.2% of men affected.

• Young women aged 16 to 24 are at the highest risk, with 28.2% experiencing a common mental disorder.

• Black or Black British individuals have higher rates of psychotic disorders (3.2%) compared to White individuals (0.3%). 

• In 2023, there were 6,069 suicides registered in England and Wales, equating to 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people, the highest rate since 1999. 

• In 2020, 1 in 6 children aged 5 to 16 were identified as having a probable mental health problem, a significant increase from 1 in 9 in 2017.

• Rates of self-harm among young women have tripled since 1993, with 25.7% of women aged 16 to 24 reporting self-harm in their lifetime.

• The cost of poor mental health is calculated at £300 billion a year in England.

• In 2022, the public sector in the UK lost 18.5 million working days due to mental health-related issues, marking an increase of over two million compared to 2020.

• In 2024, 7.8% of adults in the UK reported feeling lonely 'always or often'.

• 35% of 18–25-year-olds reporting an emotional or mental health difficulty do not seek any formal or informal help.

• 22% of survey respondents into barriers to treatment said a perceived stigma was the most significant barrier to accessing mental health care.

• Approximately one in eight adults with a mental health problem are currently receiving treatment.

Mental Health and the Workplace

With everything we've experienced in recent years, it's not surprising that mental wellbeing is now more crucial than ever. Having mental health first aiders in modern workplaces is crucial for creating a supportive and empathetic environment for all individuals.

An average of 18 million workdays are lost each year to poor mental health.

35 days per person per year are lost to presenteeism.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

Since 2001, the Mental Health Foundation has been leading Mental Health Awareness Week - bringing the UK together to focus on getting good mental health. This year, the week takes place from 12 to 18 May 2025 and their theme is 'community'.

The Mental Health Foundation want to use this week to celebrate the power and importance of community. 

Being part of a safe, positive community is vital for our mental health and wellbeing. We thrive when we have strong connections with other people and supportive communities that remind us, we are not alone.

Communities include the people who live around us, people we connect with through similar values & interests and the WORKPLACE which makes this an ideal opportunity to engage with your team and promote a positive attitude towards Mental Health.

 For more ways to get involved - https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week