The Mental Health Foundation's 2023 theme is Anxiety - and how to prevent it becoming a problem. We believe that talking could be a big part of the answer.
Mental Health Awareness Week is a chance to reflect on what causes us to experience mental health problems at different points in our life, and anxiety is a leading factor. A quarter of adults surveyed by the foundation said anxiety stopped them doing the things they wanted to do all or some of the time, and six out of ten feel this way at least some of the time.
Anxiety can be caused by almost anything - relationships, work, finances, health, exams, phobias - and it is a normal emotion we will all feel at some point. Our goal is to help people find the support they need to manage it. By bringing anxiety into the spotlight this week, and raising awareness of how we can prevent anxiety getting out of control, we can improve mental health throughout our society.
Within Samaritans, we believe that talking is a key tool to help stop anxiety becoming a problem. Talking might not make all your worries disappear, but it can make them easier to deal with. We believe in the power talking has to help you manage things better. Talking about a problem or worry can help break it into smaller parts, and help you feel less overwhelmed.
But talking only works when you feel you’ve been listened to. How often when someone is talking do you also have one eye on your phone? Or perhaps you’re not paying attention because you’re thinking about how to respond. Being a good listener takes work, but it’s an act we’re all capable of and can make a huge difference to someone’s life.
Samaritans are always here to listen, with empathy and without judgement, on 116 123. But we also have useful resources to help people become better listeners in every day life. You can find our SHUSH listening tips here.
There are lots of ways you can get involved in Mental Health Awareness Week, and you can find more information on the Mental Health Foundation's website. And if you need to talk about your anxiety, or anything else, we are always here to listen on 116 123, day or night.