It’s World Mental Health Day!
Today is a day when campaigns, fundraisers and awareness activities are happening in many communities. It’s a great prompt to get involved and support your local or national services. Fundraising for local (often free) services massively helps them exist; signposting to those services and some national campaigns or services could also make a huge difference/ impact for someone; even if you never know about that impact.
As someone who has used mental health services and who currently works at a mental health charity, I can tell you they are life saving services; and they really do need support. That support can be fundraising, volunteering, campaigning or just sharing their information. Sharing links or posters may seem like a small thing, but it helps other people find out about these services. Someone that sees you sharing may in the future: fundraise, volunteer or maybe they access a service. And that is prompted by you sharing that information, by showing your engagement in the conversation and support.
This year I’m very excited that we have the Mental Health Blog Awards happening in just over a week. Which will be an amazing opportunity to recognise and celebrate the significance and efforts to share, educate and support within a variety of mental health blogs. While this year's Awards were moved because of our baby's arrival around the original date of the Awards, hosting the event near World Mental Health Day seems very appropriate and timely. Following on from WMHD when the focus is often on campaigning, projects and services, feels like a great time to then recognise and celebrate those sharing their own lived experiences.
This year's World Mental Health Day does also feel like an opportunity to reflect on my own experiences fundraising, signposting and story sharing. I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to share and be part of a few amazing activities and campaigns, I’d like to share a few here. If they speak to you, please do check them out.
If you’d like to find out more I recommend visiting these charities and services:
Whatever you are doing today, I hope you are able to take a moment to pause, reflect and just exist in that moment, taking the time for yourself.
We need campaigners, fundraisers, volunteers and supporters everyday, not just today. So if today isn't your day or you just want/ need a break, take it.
Happy World Mental Health Day.
