Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 (13 May - 19 May)

According to statistics from the mental health charity Mind, every year 1 in 4 of us experiences a mental health problem. 

Beyond that, over 2 million people are currently waiting for NHS mental health services and since 2017, the number of young people struggling with their mental health has nearly doubled.

This means that, simply put, people are not getting the help and support they need. 

While Mental Health Awareness Week on its own is not going to solve the mental health crisis in the UK, it is an opportunity to address the challenges we are all facing.

The theme this year is movement. This is not an exercise campaign, but a chance for everyone to increase their physical activity where possible. 

Research from Mental Health UK indicates that 56% of people who take part in regular physical activity alleviated their symptoms of stress and burnout, while the Mental Health Foundation found 82% of people believe that regular physical activity is important for their mental health and wellbeing.

Those, of course, are just figures, and everyday obstacles such as accessibility, time, fatigue, money, body image, the weather and a lack of open spaces can hinder a person's ability to take part in physical activity.

So this year it's not about running an ultramarathon or lifting your five times your bodyweight at the gym. It's about taking a walk in the park if you can. Dancing in your living room. Spending five minutes properly stretching in the morning.

Moving more, however you can manage it. It won't solve everything, but it's a starting point to help us all feel a bit better day-to-day. 

Read more about the Mental Health Awareness Week campaign here. 

If you feel like you do need support with your mental health, please phone any of the following:

Mind on 0300 123 3393 (open 9am to 6pm weekdays)

Samaritans on 116 123 (always open)

Campaign Against Living Miserably on 0800 58 58 58 (open 5pm until midnight)

CALL (Wales) on 0800 123 737

Or if you're under 25, text THEMIX to 85258, who are always open.