Highland Council supports Mental Health Awareness Week 9-15 May 2022

MHAW 22 Scotland

In partnership with the Highland Community Planning Partnership

Mental Health Awareness Week is the nation’s weeklong awareness campaign to encourage open and supportive mental health conversations. Taking place Monday 9 May until Sunday 15 May 2022, this year the theme is centred around ‘loneliness’, social isolation and the profound and detrimental effect feeling lonely can play on mental health and wellbeing. Reducing loneliness plays a crucial step towards improving mental health and wellbeing across our Highland communities.

During Mental Health Awareness Week use the hashtag #IveBeenThere to share experiences of loneliness to support others and breakdown barriers.

A week to encourage friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen, tackle loneliness and social isolation and maybe even change lives.

Social connections and conversations with others have the power to change lives, developing good quality relationships can make us happier and can improve our sense of wellbeing, provide feelings of security, support and purpose in our lives. It helps to create supportive communities where we can talk openly about mental health and feel empowered to seek help when we need it. Let’s all play our part and have a conversation about ‘loneliness’ and our mental health this Mental Health Awareness Week!

Highland Community Planning Partnership has a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery group which signposts individuals and communities to trusted sources of support for mental health and wellbeing including where to get help in a crisis; resources and weblinks to support our mental wellbeing; and learning tools to build skills and confidence in having conversations about mental health and suicide prevention. It includes telephone numbers for local and national helplines which can offer support in some situations where people are feeling distressed or suicidal and there is guidance on what members of the public can do to help someone, they suspect is experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal.

Executive Chief Officer for Health and Social Care at The Highland Council, Fiona Duncan said: “We fully support Mental Health Awareness Week 9-15 May 2022. The theme of loneliness will strike a chord with many people who have experienced extended periods of loneliness throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We must continue to work together to reduce loneliness and its associated mental health problems.

"Highland Community Partnerships (HCPP) are a key part to increasing how we work together and more collaboratively with communities. HCPP - Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery group involves key partners from NHS Highland, The Highland Council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Highland Third Sector Interface and High Life Highland, the multi-agency approach involving those at the heart of communities allows HCPP to learn from and improve the lives of people in communities across Highland. We should never underestimate the ability to change lives by being there for others, socially connecting, spending time catching up, talking, and importantly listening to each other can really help lift spirits and improve overall wellbeing.

"It is important to use this week as a catalyst to tackle loneliness and talk about our mental health.

"For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week or join the conversation on social media using #IveBeenThere #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

"We know that some people are at higher risk of experiencing loneliness and mental health problems and support is available."

Download the Prevent Suicide Highland app.

If you, or someone you know needs support in relation to suicide and mental health, you can also call Samaritans on 116 123, Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87.   

9 May 2022