The official global statistics prior to this situation was 1 in 4 people will struggle with their mental health at any one time. For some context in UK, that would mean roughly 17.5 million people struggling to function, struggling within their heads and existing rather than living. That is not a small number by any means.
#Standforme is a campaign for everyone in Wales to call on political parties and candidates and ask them to stand for mental health in the next election. “It is time that our government take a stand for the people, stand for what they believe in and show their support for improved mental health.”
#standforme – Mind Campaign
The campaign, organised by Mind, is calling on the next Welsh Government to do the following:
- Make mental health a cross cutting priority by publishing a new Mental Health Strategy and reviewing mental health legislation.
- Address inequalities in access to mental health support, in particular people living in poverty and people who are from black and minority ethnic communities.
- Address the growing crisis in young people’s mental health by meeting the wide and varied demand for support.
- Commit to ensuring everybody has safe and speedy access to quality care when they need it, including crisis care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Provide greater focus, planning and investment into mental health in primary care and talking therapies to ensure timely access to a range of support.
- Tackle stigma in communities and drive improved employment practices to make workplaces more accessible and inclusive for those experiencing mental health problems.
Please do get involved with the ‘stand for me’ campaign – many more than we know are affected by mental health challenges, especially in these times, where isolation, loneliness is expected of you to keep everyone else safe.
But the impact on someone living with mental health challenges and mental illness, it can be unbearable. Let’s be kind and support one another.