Mental Health Awareness Week 2016

North Wales Police is supporting Mental Health Awareness Week from the 16th to the 22nd May. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

North Wales Police want to help break the silence and end the stigma around mental health. Mental health problems affect 1 in 4 people every year, and 9 in 10 of those experiencing mental health problems say they have faced negative treatment from others as a result. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The key theme of the week this year is relationships, as good relationships are essential for maintaining good mental health. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

We need a greater focus on the quality of our relationships and need to understand how fundamental they are to our health and wellbeing. We cannot flourish as individuals and communities without them. They are as vital as better established lifestyle factors such as healthy eating, exercising well and stopping smoking. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The challenge asks for everyone to go the extra mile in prioritising their relationships, by asking people to make a relationship resolution to assess how much time we actively commit to building and maintaining good relationships and ask whether we can invest more in being present with and listening to friends, family and colleagues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Diane Pierce, the HR Lead for Health and Wellbeing said: “As part of our on-going commitment to creating a positive and healthy working environment and tackling stigma around mental-ill health, we are supporting the Mental Health Awareness Week.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If you are experiencing mental health problems or need urgent support, there are lots of places you can go for help including your GP or Mental Health Organisations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​