Future Mental Wellbeing: Strategies for a Happier Life Ahead
In the United Kingdom, mental health has become a pressing concern, with between 20-30% of adults reporting significant psychological distress between 2019 and 2021. This statistic underscores the importance of mental health support initiatives, particularly those catering to diverse communities.
One such initiative is the BME Health Forum's Health Advocacy Project, which trains bilingual Health Advocates from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) groups to help patients navigate the National Health Service (NHS) services in their own language. This project, funded by the National Lottery, collaborates with NHS Trusts to improve healthcare and mental health support access.
The Brave Project C.C, another UK initiative, offers culturally competent mental health support and resources tailored to BAME individuals. Kompasi Services provides specific mental health support to BAME communities, including therapy services with interpreters available and personalised keyworking support.
Community and Voluntary Sector Strategies, a collaborative effort between voluntary/community sectors and NHS bodies, include case studies and recommendations to improve mental health outcomes in BAME populations. Research and Funding for Early Intervention, such as the Wellcome Mental Health Award, support projects targeting anxiety, depression, and psychosis in young people, encompassing BAME-focused programs aiming at scalable psychological and social interventions.
Mental health is a basic human right, as identified by the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO also reports that 1 in 8 people around the world live with a mental disorder. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of anxiety and depression by 25%.
Young women between the ages of 16-24 years in the UK are 3 times more likely to have mental health issues than men. To combat this, the UK government has invested a £5 million grant to Mind charity and additional funds to mental health charities like Samaritans, Young Minds, and Bipolar UK.
The importance of mental health is further highlighted by the celebration of World Mental Health Day on the 10th of October. This year's theme is 'make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority'.
Beyond the UK, initiatives like Beyond Blue in Australia offer resources and support for individuals with serious mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Bhutan, on the other hand, introduced the Gross National Happiness Index in the 1970s, using wellbeing as a measure of the country's progress, and psychological wellbeing is one of the 9 domains that is measured to assess development.
Adopting concepts like Finland's "sisu", representing resilience and determination during difficult situations, or Denmark's "hygge", taking time off the daily grind to appreciate the simple things in life, can promote mental wellbeing. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) suggests seeking education and speaking openly about mental health, being compassionate towards those with mental issues, empowering them, and encouraging equality between physical and mental illness to navigate stigma.
In conclusion, mental health support initiatives are crucial in addressing the mental health concerns of diverse communities. By promoting linguistic accessibility, cultural competence, community involvement, and early intervention, we can make strides in improving mental health outcomes and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Scientists can study the effectiveness of mental health support initiatives, such as the BME Health Forum's Health Advocacy Project and The Brave Project C.C, in improving the mental health of diverse communities within the United Kingdom. To achieve better mental health and wellness for all, it's essential to prioritize initiatives that target mental health concerns, like early interventions for anxiety, depression, and psychosis in young people, as supported by research grants like the Wellcome Mental Health Award.
