This week we look at the latest stats about mental health – and who’s talking about it – the benefits of playing football and dealing with grief.
Rio Ferdinand has spoken out about coping with grief and bereavement
Footballer Rio Ferdinand has been in the media a lot over the past week talking about the struggles he faced with his wife passed away. From coping with grief and bereavement to encouraging his children to express themselves and open up about difficult feelings.
A new study says 82% of people are glad they spoke up about a mental health problem
A nation-wide survey has found that nearly half of us have been talking about our mental health more in the past three months than we ever have. Of those who have experienced mental health challenges, a huge 82% said they’re glad they started talking about it too, which is a really promising stat for those seeking help. However, it seems there’s a bit of a gender gap, with only 37% of men saying they discussed their mental health compared to 54% of women. That isn’t surprising to anyone who follows mental health news, but does point to more needing to be done to get men talking.
Football can have a positive impact on mental health
A group of researchers have been working with NHS Tayside and NHS Fife to find out how football sessions can impact an individual’s mental health. It’s still early days to make sweeping statements, but so far they’ve found that regular football sessions can help to form and sustain friendships, improve mental and physical health and create a support network.
The royals have launched a new campaign to get people talking about mental health
William, Kate and Harry have launched a new campaign called Heads Together to get people talking about mental health. They’ve recruited a number of celebrities and other high profile individuals to make videos about dealing with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Let’s hope having such a strong, well-known team behind the initiative will bring about good results.
This personal essay explains the realities of struggling with a mental illness
It’s easy to get bogged down in stats and news when we discuss mental health initiatives and new government schemes. But really it’s the personal stories that are the most important. In the Metro this week, there’s a really heartfelt essay about the ups and downs of mental health challenges and how often medication itself won’t solve the deepset problems that are underneath.
Looking at how mental health can affect our loved ones
If personal experiences resonate with you, then you should check out this collection of small stories in The Guardian about how mental health can impact relationships. Some of them are a tough read – and might not be the best for you if you’re in the middle of some mental health struggles yourself – but we like that they get people talking not just about mental health, but the impact it can have on your world and those around you.
Every week we’ll be bringing you a fresh summary of the top stories concerned with mental health, wellbeing and productivity, which provide us with insights into how we can better tackle the mental health issues that affect us all.
Keep checking back to our blog every week to find out what you’ve been missing. You can also follow UK Therapy Guide on Twitter for the last news: @UKTherapyGuide
