Blog Post from May 20th 2020
Unless you have taken time off the grid this week you will likely be aware that this is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year this annual focus has gained much more attention because the COVID19 crisis has highlighted the need to protect our Mental Health and Wellbeing as a matter for us all.
I learned an important distinction when I began to work with Mental Health Charities – I now find myself wincing when a TV presenter talks about people being embarrassed about acknowledging Mental Health- I’ll admit a few years ago, I would have been guilty of such misuse of the language around Mental Health; a lightbulb moment for me was the realisation that Mental Health is something we all have – the challenges are around mental health issues or mental illness and that is the distinction. Attitudes are changing but there is still some stigma around Mental Health and Wellbeing when we should be absolutely looking to feed the Mental Health of ourselves and others.
Working as a practitioner in the Third Sector supporting Community Groups and Organisations, many of them working to contribute to the “Health and Wellbeing Preventative Agenda”, can in itself feel isolating. Funding in this area is often tight therefore we do not operate from large teams of work colleagues.
Whilst we spend vast amounts of time talking to and meeting people, we can still find ourselves alone and without the support we would normally garner from workmates in other types of workplaces. Personally, I am fortunate to have a strong and approachable board and admin colleagues behind me but also, we are incredibly lucky in K&M as we have worked the landscape to our advantage. We benefit from tremendous partnership working between Third Sector Organisations and the local Public Sector. This has built a strong peer support system which not only provides the approach which focuses collectively on finding the best outcomes for our communities but there is also a real colleague style relationship between partners; One that is supportive, offers guidance and problem solving, a sounding board for ideas or concerns, where the Mental Health and Wellbeing of each other is paramount. This is born out of trust, openness and a real mutual respect between all partners.
This Mental Health Week I want to say a heartfelt thank you to my peers in K&M. Our way of working is one which has strengthened our communities and our cohesive approach has never been more evident as it is today. Not least because we don’t feel as alone and this contributes to maintaining our Mental Health and Wellbeing..