Advice Centre

Mental health awareness week 15th to 21st May 2023

Posted by: IMD Solicitors
Posted in: Mental health and well-being, News
Date published: 15/05/2023

We believe it is important we recognise mental health and raise awareness by talking about it so as to take the stigma out of what is still a silent issue.  This year the theme of the mental health awareness week is looking at anxiety in a different way.

Often dismissed as something or nothing but in reality to anyone suffering from anxiety it can have a profound and adverse impact on their well-being. It is therefore necessary to recognise anxiety as a legitimate health issue and allow the space and support to those in need.

All of us can feel anxious but when a person has a severe mental illness anxiety can make this much worse. Often people will not ask for help for fear of stigma or discrimination, and sometimes due to fear that they will be judged harshly. 

Let us make an effort to hear and listen to people by creating a safe environment where we can all talk about our anxiety feelings. Sharing is one way to open the door to peer support. In the work place it is even more harder. Here at IMD Solicitors we make a conscious effort to support our colleagues in a caring and respectful way.  We have a mental Health and wellbeing committee, and we can feel safe  to talk about our mental challenges.  We have also signed the mental health at work commitment through the charity Mind as we know this is not something we can just give lip service to,  but constant education and learning is needed, so that we can support those around us.  Some of our colleagues will be qualified and provide Mental health first aid in the workplace, and this work continues beyond this special week.

Charities like www.rethink.org and https://www.mind.org.uk/ offer a range of support and information for individuals and their loved ones.  We hope to mark this day by saying it is okay to be not okay, and it is okay to say ‘listen to me’.

Please support Mental health awareness week and ask someone how they are doing.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.