It’s that time again…

On October 10th it was World Mental Health Day; a day which, in one way or another, we can relate to, with ourselves or someone we know.  This year has been a seriously tough one, particularly for people living with mental illness and anyone who has had troubles with their careers during the height of the pandemic, whether it being put on furlough, made redundant, or simply feeling isolated and anxious.  Rethink Mental Health conducted a survey, and their research found that nearly 80% of people living with mental illness say that COVID-19, and the national response in the media, has made their mental health worse.

 So that's why, this 2020 World Mental Health Day,  many of us have been focusing on how people who suffer, or have experienced a mental health illness, are overcoming the challenges of lockdown, and how, together, we are pushing for a better place to be in, post-pandemic.

 According to The Metro, since 2004 the suicide rate for men and women has grown every single year, and the lockdown has caused more suicides than ever across England and Wales. Deaths have increased ‘significantly’ in females aged between 10 to 24, from 81 in 2012 to 159 in 2019, and men in England and Wales is at its highest rate for two decades. In 2019, there were 5,691 suicides registered, and men accounted for around three quarters of them.

 With these terrifying stats, it is even more reason to look out for one another. Our writers and experienced teams with mental health training at Capita are continuously publishing, re posting and creating awareness on our home page to eventually normalise this subject many of us are still afraid to address. Newsletters, links, articles, information, and personal experiences is an ongoing matter we take into our hands to help those in need. Offering advice in order for our workers and clients who may be suffering to make a positive change can seem so hard, especially during these uncertain times. And sometimes, it can be hard even to know where to start, so taking the opportunity this World Mental Health Day, that has created a plethora of information online, is one way to go about how you can start.

 With one task at a time, whether it's going for a walk, learning a new skill, doing something creative, or even clearing out your wardrobe, taking the first steps to getting support for yourself, or reaching out to someone else, can save lives. As it’s been said before, anyone who feels isolated, anxious or depressed should know that you aren’t alone and can feel safe to go to a peer at work, a friend, or can contact Mind at https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day-2020/

And for more information on the mental health at Capita, please visit https://www.capita.com/search?search=mental+health