Make mental health a key priority in 2019

Mental health needs to be a key focus for workplaces, education and health care in 2019, to stop people facing unfair discrimination, according to a mental health organisation.

See Me, the national programme to end mental health stigma and discrimination, have called on public bodies, private organisations and people across Orkney to do more to ensure that people struggling with their mental health are treated fairly.

They want this to start with this year’s Time to Talk day on February 7 — a day for everyone to talk about mental health.

They want people and organisations to hold Time to Talk events, which could be in gyms, cafes, at coffee mornings, in dedicated areas in workplaces and schools or anywhere else where people can chat about how they’re feeling, whether good or bad, and show we all have mental health.

Calum Irving, See Me director, said: “People with mental health problems face unacceptably high levels of stigma and discrimination.

“We all have mental health and any of us could go through a period where we struggle. In these times we need the help and support of those around us to give us the best chance of recovery.

“So we want to see workplaces, communities, schools, health providers in Orkney to come together to talk about mental health this year, starting with Time to Talk day.”

You can get involved in Time to Talk day by ordering or downloading materials and support packs at https://www.seemescotland.org/