On Tuesday 10 October, we celebrate World Mental Health Day, by focusing on and talking about the importance of good mental health, and supporting each other to drive positive change with mental health support and services.
Unhealthy and unhelpful barriers to good mental health are the stigmas, the stereotypes, and discrimination that are experienced and continue to exist within our communities. We all need to play a role as individuals and groups to firstly not be part of such unhealthy behaviour, and then to challenge it when we are witnesses to it.
Sadly mental health services in the UK are under-resourced and not as good as they should be. People we support may face double discrimination having both a learning disability and a mental health condition. They may not be assessed correctly as diagnostic overshadowing is a frequent issue. This happens when a health professional makes an assumption that the behaviour of a person with learning disabilities is part of their learning disability. This could leave a mental health condition undiagnosed and untreated.
Let’s double or re-double our efforts to advocate for and strive for good quality mental health support for all of us. We all deserve it, and we never know when we will personally need it.
On this Mental Health Day, let’s reflect, let’s talk and rekindle our efforts to make our world a more mental health friendly place to be.
Happy Mental Health Day!
Check out the following resources connected with World Mental Health Day, and use the social media materials to remind others of today.
World Mental Health Day 2023 | Mental Health Foundation
World Mental Health Day 2023 Toolkit | Samaritans
World Mental Health Day – Mind
Further Information
The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (FPLD) has created the Pass-It-On Project. This is a project about mental health for people with learning disabilities. The project aims to help people learn about mental health. They have put together an easy-read guide to help people take care of their mental health.
Download the guide at
feeling-down-guide.pdf (learningdisabilities.org.uk)
Also, on Tuesday 10 October 4pm, Celia Heneage from Sussex Mindfulness Centre teaches us some amazing tips for accessible meditation. This session will provide people we support, and support teams, with the tools to use meditation to relax, calm and improve mental health. Link: https://zoom.us/j/92346873375
