Sunday is world mental health day, and the goal is to raise awareness of mental health-related issues to ensure those experiencing mental difficulties can live their lives with pride.

Close to 1 billion people experience life with a mental health disorder; it’s imaginable this could’ve increased during the COVID19 pandemic.

At a personal level, support from friends, family and colleagues is essential as there’s no health without mental health.

Every year this day has a unique theme; the focus this year is on mental health in an unequal world. 2020 highlighted global inequalities relating to race and ethnicity, sexual orientation, lack of respect towards human rights and gender identity. This year will focus on the lack of investment towards mental health causes and ensuring everyone receives the desired level of mental health access that they deserve.

Below are some links to charities and organisations that dedicate their invaluable work towards mental health support alongside contact details if you need to get in touch. 

Mind
A charity providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing mental health issues.
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Infoline: 0300 123 3393
Email: info@mind.org.uk 
Helplines page

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
A charity taking a stand against suicide.
Website: www.thecalmzone.net
Contact number: 0800 58 58 58

British Red Cross
A charity that supports those experiencing crisis.
Website: www.redcross.org.uk
Contact number: 0344 871 11 11
Email address: contactus@redcross.org.uk 

The Mental Health Foundation
A charity aiming to help people understand, protect and sustain their mental health.
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk 
Contact number: 020 7803 1100

Rethink
An organisation transforming the lives of those experiencing mental health.
Website: www.rethink.org 
Contact number: 0121 522 7007 

World Mental Health Day in 2021 opens an opportunity for the community to come together and make aware of how inequality can be addressed to ensure we can all enjoy good mental health.