Mental Health Awareness Week is a national annual event which provides the opportunity to focus on achieving good mental health. The main aim of the cause is to provide a platform to share conversations around mental health, recognise the things in our daily lives that can affect it and to offer practical advice and support on how to improve mental health.
The theme of this year’s campaign is ‘Loneliness’.
During this week, IPM Facilities will be raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it. We encourage everyone to build meaningful connections with friends, family, colleagues, and communities.
What is loneliness?
The mental health charity Mind explains that loneliness is a personal feeling, so everyone experiences it in a different way. Living or spending time alone doesn’t mean someone is lonely. Many people experience loneliness despite having lots of friends or family around them. Loneliness is about what we get from our social interactions – whether we feel connected, rewarded and understood.
It is a pledge that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy, and society they serve with their lives.
How does loneliness affect mental health?
This vicious cycle can be difficult to break without the right support but, opening up about loneliness can be hard. The personal nature of loneliness and the stigma attached to it means people often suffer in silence and deny their experiences. Loneliness is associated with a range of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts. There’s also an association between loneliness, cognitive decline, and the onset of dementia.
IPM Facilities Mental health First Aider is our Head of Property Dominic Shaw.
For more information and support, please follow the link below:
Commentaires