As we dust of the party poppers, finish the remains of the Christmas Turkey, regain routine and

many are back to work.

Here’s a thought and here’s some statistics. Let’s start with the statistics.

“Suicide is the most common cause of death for men aged 20-49 years in England and Wales.” (1)

“One person in fifteen had made a suicide attempt at some point in their life” (2)

“During 2003–2013 in England, 13,972 deaths were identified as patient suicides…” (3)

Let that settle in.

Now here’s the thought. Nearly 14,000 individuals died through cause of suicide. Patient suicide

meaning they had been linked to services of have or having been a patient through one of the

mental health services provided in the UK.

Now, let’s take that same number 14,000 of deaths and change the association or scenario with

something like, typhoid, measles, smallpox, or more. And I can guarantee the government would

have already started a state of emergency and plans would immediately be in place and plan of

action would be taken.

But you see? Because it isn’t just that. Nothing has been done.

Did you also know that the North East has some of highest on record for male deaths caused by

suicide within England?

You see, just because Mental Health is not your physical health or cannot often be seen, does not

make it any less worthy or perhaps untreatable then a physical injury. You break your arm, people

will nurse this better, care and medical advice will be provided. You break your thoughts, or your

mind gets a little bump. Many run or those who suffer will not open up, because of the thought

others will run.

You see we as a country are ignorant to ignore the fact that mental health is a growing problem, and

it’s that ignorance that fuels it.

Mental Health has no age, has no gender, and has no background. It can hit at any time, any place,

anywhere. Now more than ever with growing social media, open acceptance to all, alongside a

growing trend to feel more accepted by others. More and more people are beginning to show the

signs and suffer at the hands of Mental Health.

So, what can be done?

For now, everything that can be done and is being done, although there is so much more that is

needed to be done. And should be done. If you look to other countries around the world we are

lacking further and further behind in both ways and treatments in Mental Health.

But the more we all openly talk about it, accept it, and help each other, this alone is one of the

greatest steps to encourage more acceptance of Mental Health in the UK.

If you’ve just come out of a rough December, as many others have. You’re not alone. Hang in there.

There are links below you can use to help you.

https://www.samaritans.org/

http://www.ming.ork.uk

http://childline.org.uk

Still struggling on how to keep calm, keep cool, and help loosen the effects you’re going through?

Come back in February for tips on how to cope, with anxiety, depression, and more.

Stay strong. Talk more. You’ve got this.

James Hatton BSc

References

http://www.mind.org.uk

3

http://www.nhsconfed.org/~/media/Confederation/Files/Publications/Documents/MHN%20key%20

facts%20and%20trends%20factsheet_Fs1356_3_WEB.pdf

2 McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. (eds.) (2016) Mental health and wellbeing in

England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital. Available at

http://digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748. [Accessed 18 October 2017]

1 Office for National Statistics (2015). Suicides in the United Kingdom, 2013 Registrations - ONS.

[online] Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/subnational-health4/suicides- in-the- united...

[Accessed 25 Aug.2015].