World Mental Health Day is on Saturday 10 October, and this year’s theme is “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change“. The World Health Organization describes it as a call for people’s own voices to shape the policies, services and decisions that affect their lives.
At Mindapples, our vision is a world where looking after our minds is natural and normal for everyone. We work towards it by educating people about how their minds work, engaging people in sharing what helps them, and campaigning to raise awareness of why mental health and wellbeing matter.
Stigma is part of what we are working against. The World Federation for Mental Health reminds us this World Mental Health Day that people living with mental health conditions have too often faced stigma, discrimination and exclusion. We believe that when talking about our minds becomes ordinary, it gets easier for people to speak up and ask for help.
Where we start
One way we work towards that is by listening first. Since 2008, we have asked one simple question: what do you do each day for your mind? We have now heard from hundreds of thousands of people, and the answers are usually simple, such as a cup of tea, a walk at lunchtime or listening to music. A study led by Sarah Pressman found that people who took part in more enjoyable activities tended to have better psychological and physical wellbeing. We believe you are the expert in your own mind, so we start by hearing from you, and what matters is finding what works for you and making time for it.
In schools and universities, we work with staff and students to build a shared language for talking about our minds, so that it is easier for people to say how they are and be heard. Our work with universities has also been co-produced with students and staff, so the people it is for have helped to shape it.
Our principles and this theme
This year’s theme is about people’s voices being heard. For that to happen, people need to feel that their experience belongs in the conversation, that it is safe to say how they really feel, and that they will be listened to and not judged. Three of our 10 principles for talking about our minds, which are part of our training, reflect each of these. We all have mental health, so everyone’s experience belongs in the conversation, and talking about it should be normal. Every feeling is valid, so people can say how they really feel, the good and the difficult alike, without it being criticised or suppressed. And unconditional positive regard means valuing people as they are, so that speaking up does not have to come with a fear of being judged.
Join in
This World Mental Health Day, we invite you to share your five and tell us what you do for your mind. If you would like to get people talking in your school, university, workplace or community, our free 50 ways to take care of your mind campaign pack includes posters, social media banners and illustrations to help. Our Champions training helps people feel more confident and comfortable having conversations about mental health, and we can organise it for your group. You can get in touch at hello@mindapples.org.