Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in Mental health, News on 15th May, 2023

Raise awareness of mental health this Mental Health Awareness Week, Monday 15 to Sunday 21 May 2023.

Every year, Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) shines a spotlight on mental health and helps to build meaningful connections with friends, family, colleagues and communities. As an organisation we understand the seriousness poor mental health can have on someone and how many lives this affects.

The theme for this year is a topic we have all experienced and it is one of the most common mental health problems, this being anxiety. Whether this has been due to exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job or the current cost of living crisis - resulting in not being able to meet basic needs, like heating our home or buying food - our actions and mindset have altered at points as an outcome of feeling anxious.

In a recent mental health survey carried out by the Mental Health Foundation around stress, anxiety and hopelessness over personal finances, a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time. Six in ten adults feel this way, at least some of the time. On a positive note, anxiety can be made easier to manage.

Focusing on anxiety for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. Mental Health UK are encouraging everybody to have open and honest conversations about anxiety and to learn about the differences between some of the most common anxiety disorders.

What support is available?

TALKWORKS can offer confidential support to our staff and patients for managing the symptoms of anxiety, including:

• One-to-one sessions with a therapist (face-to-face, over the phone or by video call)
• Group therapy sessions and wellbeing workshops
• Access to online self-help
• Live text-based therapy

You do not need a referral from a GP to access TALKWORKS’ services, you can refer yourself online or over the phone. For more information on the different treatment options and therapy services, please visit the TALKWORKS website or call 0300 555 3344.

How can I help?

• Wear It Green Day: wear green to show support for Mental Health Awareness Week
• Take on a skydive: Make 2023 the year you do something amazing and take on a skydive for Mental Health Awareness Week in May! If this is not for you, visit the DPT Charity Events page to find other ways to get involved and raise money
• #PinItForMentalHealth and wear a green ribbon to show colleagues, loved ones or simply those you walk past that you care about their mental health. It can also be worn in memory of a loved one
• Sign up to the Mental Health UK webinar on anxiety and learn how to support people with anxiety at work. The expert panel will help you plan for, reduce and manage anxiety in your workplace by creating a culture of psychological safety
• Download the Couch to 5k and Active 10 apps: Better Health - Every Mind Matters will be helping people recognise their symptoms of anxiety and motivating people to get physically active to help reduce these symptoms.

Learn more about anxiety and the different symptoms, causes and treatments by visiting the Mental Health UK website.

You can follow our updates on this week by following our social media accounts here, or by searching the #MHAW2023 and #ToHelpMyAnxiety hashtags.