Mental Health Awareness Week at Spencer Private Hospitals
Date: 09/05/2022
Today marks the launch of Mental Health Awareness Week, the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health.
The week, which is hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, is in its 22nd year and runs from 9-15 May.
This year, the theme for the week is ‘Loneliness’. Across the country, people will be reflecting on loneliness and how it impacts our mental health. Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. As part of Mental Health Awareness Week Jo Jenner and April Mothersele will be holding ‘Time to talk’ sessions for staff across SPH sites:
▪ Wednesday 11th May 10 am and 2pm at Margate with April
▪ Thursday 12th between 10.30 and 12 at Ashford with Jo
▪ Teams’ session on Friday 13th between 1.30 pm and 2.30pm hosted by Jo
Spencer Private Hospitals Ltd’s Commercial and Finance Director & Mental Health First Aider, Jo Jenner says:
“The Mental Health and Wellbeing of our staff is something Spencer Private Hospitals values and we actively works towards breaking the stigma around mental health. This is demonstrated by the fact we have Mental Health First Aiders, TriM practitioners, a wellbeing committee and weekly mindfulness meditation sessions. Mental Health Awareness week is hugely important, but this is about keeping the conversations going all year.”
Mark Rowland Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation said:
“We hope this year’s theme of loneliness will strike a chord with many of us who felt lonely and struggled throughout the Covid pandemic.
“Millions of us experience loneliness from time to time. We know that some people are at higher risk of experiencing loneliness and the evidence shows the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems.
“Loneliness deserves more attention and we’re calling on everyone who has struggled as a result of being lonely to share their experiences. We must work together - as individuals, as a society and through government policy - to reduce loneliness and prevent mental health problems by investing in welcoming, social spaces and new community initiatives.”
Some of the ways people can participate in Mental Health Awareness Week:
- During Mental Health Awareness Week use the hashtag #IveBeenThere to share experiences of loneliness to support others and give the campaign momentum.
- Sign up to walk, run or job as part of our 80 Miles in May challenge and share your photos using #80MilesinMay and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.
For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw or join the conversation on social media using #IveBeenThere and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek
