People who think they have a mental health condition are being urged not to suffer in silence and seek help.
One in four people in the United Kingdom will experience a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety in their lifetime and Enfield Council is urging residents who feel unwell to seek support so they can get back on their feet and get on with their lives.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety & Public Health, Cllr Krystle Fonyonga, said: “If you have been feeling depressed for more than a few weeks, or you have anxiety which is affecting your daily life, you should make an appointment to see your GP or seek other professional help.
“Mental health problems can be as severe and life changing as physical illnesses, so it is really important that you do something about it rather than suffer in silence.”
The council is also giving residents advice on how to make little changes to their lives to help reduce the likelihood of them suffering from stress, anxiety or depression
Evidence suggests there are five steps everyone can take to reduce levels of stress, anxiety and depression and improve your mental wellbeing.
They are:
- Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.
- Be active – you don’t have to go to the gym, take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life. Enfield Council has just launched a new campaign ‘Move More’ to encourage people to take simple steps towards health so why not get involved?
- Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?
- Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Why not volunteer to help with a local charity and be an ‘Enfield Hero’?
- Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness ‘mindfulness’. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.
If you’ve had thoughts of self-harming or are feeling suicidal, contact someone immediately such as your GP, a friend, a relative or someone else you can trust. If you’ve already taken an overdose or cut yourself badly, dial 999.
Cllr Fonyonga said: “Having mental health problems at some point in our lives is extremely common. This could be anxiety or depression, but there are many other conditions such as bi-polar disorder or borderline personality disorder. Many people feel so depressed they even contemplate suicide, but it’s really important to remember that there are a number of organisations and your GP who can help you. You just have to ask.
“It is also difficult for friends and families of those suffering from mental health problems; they often bear the brunt of the emotional roller-coaster of living with someone who has emotional difficulties. If you feel you are struggling to deal with someone close to you who has issues like this you must also speak up.”
For more information or help:
Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust
Email ‘Improving Access to psychological therapies’ (IAPT) or call them on 020 8342 3012
Samaritans: freephone 08457 90 90 90
Mind infoline: 0300 123 3393
