Every Mind Matters – groundbreaking mental health platform launched
Released in partnership with Public Health England
Every Mind Matters – groundbreaking new platform launched to support mental health, following a pilot in West Midlands and East Midlands
- Public Health England, in partnership with the NHS, today launches Every Mind Matters, a new way of empowering people to manage and improve their mental health.
- Survey shows 83% people in West Midlands region have experienced early signs of poor mental health, including feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood or trouble sleeping in the last 12 months.
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have supported Every Mind Matters by voicing a special film.
- Written by Richard Curtis and directed by Rankin, the film features celebrities including Gillian Anderson, Davina McCall, Glenn Close, ‘Freddie’ Flintoff, Professor Green and Nadiya Hussain. The film will be broadcast simultaneously on ITV, Channel 4 and Sky channels.
Every Mind Matters
Public Health England (PHE), in partnership with the NHS, today launches Every Mind Matters to help people take simple steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing and support others.
It is increasingly recognised that taking care of our mental health is as important as maintaining good physical health. A new PHE survey reveals 83% people in West Midlands region (79% in Birmingham) have experienced early signs of poor mental health including feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood or trouble sleeping in the last 12 months.[1] While these can be a natural response to life’s challenges, they can become more serious if people don’t take action – and many people wait too long.
In the West Midlands, 24% of people in the region (25% in Birmingham) who experienced signs of poor mental health waited at least six months before taking steps to manage their mental health, with 74% of those in West Midlands region who waited this long wishing they had acted sooner.
Every Mind Matters shows people the simple steps they can take to be better prepared for life’s ups and downs. The new platform, which has been endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RGCP), will enable people to create a personalised action plan recommending a set of self-care actions to deal with stress, boost mood, improve sleep and feel in control.
A special film to promote Every Mind Matters has been written by Richard Curtis and directed by Rankin, narrated by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. It shows how we can all look after our mental health and will be aired simultaneously at around 8.45pm tonight (Monday 7 October 2019) simultaneously across ITV, Channel 4 and Sky channels.
The powerful film features a range of people whose lives have been affected by poor mental health, including a cast of well-known faces: Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, ‘Freddie Flintoff’, ‘Professor Green’, Davina McCall, Jordan Stephens, Will Young, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Nadiya Hussain, Rob Beckett, Katie Piper, Joe Sugg and Alastair Campbell.
The launch follows 18 months of planning and local and regional piloting, developed with clinical and academic experts, national mental health charities[2] and input from people with experience of poor mental health. Clinically-assured by the NHS, Every Mind Matters is evidence-based and it shows people how to build simple changes into their daily lives – such as reframing unhelpful thoughts, breathing exercises and increasing physical activity.
Insights from last year’s pilot in the West Midlands and East Midlands showed attitudes to mental health have shifted significantly, with people increasingly agreeing it’s important to look after your mental health. Testing showed people don’t feel confident to take action on their own mental health; needing accessible, practical advice on what steps they can take to look after their mental wellbeing. As a result of the Midlands pilot, a new interactive tool, ‘Your Mind Plan’ will enable people to generate a free online plan to improve their mental health. By answering five key questions, they get a tailored set of self-care actions based on their situation, to help them deal with stress, boost their mood, improve their sleep and feel more in control.
All of these actions have well evidenced impact on improving and maintaining good mental health, which can help people to feel and function better, have more positive relationships, manage difficult times and get more out of life – now and in the future.
Every Mind Matters is backed by a coalition of mental health charities and champions, including Mind, Mental Health First Aid England, Time to Change, Heads Together and the Samaritans.
This new resource is available for the public and for GPs to advise their patients to use. The NHS will also promote Every Mind Matters to its one-million plus workforce.
Some of the nation’s biggest companies from the high street, entertainment, sport and finance have pledged to adopt Every Mind Matters for their staff, customers and fans. These include Nationwide, Greggs and the England and Wales Cricket Board, who will be empowering their staff and the public to take their mental health into their own hands and encouraging them to create their own action plan.
Paul Sanderson, PHE West Midlands mental health lead, said:
“Eight out of 10 people in the West Midlands have experienced the early signs of poor mental health in the last 12 months – so someone within your family, friends or workplace will likely be experiencing poor mental health right now. Feeling anxious, stressed, having low moods or trouble sleeping can be a natural response to life’s challenges, but if people don’t take action, things can escalate and become much more serious.
“The Every Mind Matters online resource encourages people to take simple early steps to look after their mental health, improve their mental wellbeing, and support others who may be experiencing difficulties. There’s a quick questionnaire and the results will give people hints and tips so they can put together a personal action plan to improve their daily lives – such as increasing physical activity, learning new skills, doing something creative. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and there are always things we can do to look after our minds, in the same way we look after our bodies.”
Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said:
“We all have mental health just as we all have physical health, and it can vary from good to poor. Most people know how important it is to look after their physical health, and more and more people are understanding the need to look after their mental health as well, but lots of us don’t know where to start.
“That’s why Mind has been helping develop Every Mind Matters, to empower people with the tools they need to deal with everyday causes of stress, anxiety, low mood and trouble sleeping. Taking proactive steps like increasing physical activity and connecting with others can help prevent these issues developing into more serious mental health problems further down the line.
“At a time when only a third of people with a mental health problem get access to any kind of help and support, it’s important to do whatever we can to help people take steps to stay well and try and prevent mental health problems developing in the first place.
“We hope that this campaign will help increase public awareness of how we can all stay as mentally well as possible.”
Rachel Robinson, Shropshire Council’s director of public health, added:-
“Good mental health is so important as it affects all aspects of a person’s life including their physical health, their social connections, education, personal relations and employment opportunities to name a few. As a rural county we have challenges around isolation which can have a significant impact on an individual’s wellbeing.
“In Shropshire, we want mental health to be openly discussed and supported, and are committed to ensuring that residents have access to opportunities that really help promote good mental wellbeing. We are therefore really excited to support Every Mind Matters, which encourages people to be more aware of their mental health and help them discover simple steps to look after their mental health and wellbeing.”
To discover simple steps for a healthier mind, create your bespoke action plan at: www.everymindmatters.co.uk
Shropshire Council has set up a dedicated page for the campaign which links people to local activities which can support their mental wellbeing. For more information visit https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/shropshire-choices/every-mind-matters/
Further information
[1] 83% of respondents reported experiencing at least one concern – low mood, anxiety, stress, trouble sleeping, social anxiety, depression, panic, obsessions and compulsions, or trauma in the last 12 months.
Shropshire Council
Mental health and wellbeing is relevant to everyone, it’s how we feel and how we cope which can change from day to day. You can have good wellbeing even if you have been diagnosed with a mental illness – it’s all about having a good quality of life. Talking things through, relaxation, physical activity and maintaining a balanced diet can help, as well as ensuring a good work/life balance by developing interests outside of work can help reduce stress and improve productivity.
Below are some examples of the work previously and currently being undertaken in Shropshire to help promote good mental health.
Healthy Lives programme
Shropshire’s Healthy Lives Programme brings health and social care providers in Shropshire together to work in partnership, to help prevent ill health. The programme focuses on key areas which impact on the population’s health and wellbeing including how, collectively, we can address issues such as loneliness, isolation and mental health.
Social prescribing
Part of our Healthy Lives programme, our Social Prescribing work has been nationally recognised as an exemplar programme and was shortlisted for the national LGC awards.
Social prescribing is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other health and social care professionals to refer people to a social prescribing adviser who provides the individual with motivational support and helps them to access non-clinical activities in their local community. A key feature of social prescribing is the time spent with the individual and the holistic nature of the support offered.
You can hear how social prescribing has had a positive effect on a person’s wellbeing in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsdsP6WfWoE
Shropshire Wild Teams
The Shropshire Wild Teams are groups of conservation volunteers who are using mental health services, primarily secondary services, as well people with learning disabilities. The Shropshire Wild Teams was originally set up with Public Health funding to engage with people leading sedentary and/ or isolated lives as a longer term preventative strategy to minimise future deteriorating health and the resulting increase in costs for further health care interventions.
Mental health training
Shropshire Council has Learning Development Officers who are certificated Instructors with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England to deliver the MHFA programmes for;
- MHFA England Adults 2 day course – First Aiders
- MHFA England Awareness 4 hr course – 157 learners since April this year
- MHFA England Youth 2 day course – First Aiders
The team deliver training to both council staff and external organisations and have received very positive feedback from those who’ve attended the courses.
Let’s Talk mental health hubs
Shropshire’s Let’s Talk mental health hubs provide face to face information, support and advice for people experiencing difficulties relating to their mental health.
The hubs enable people to come and talk to a friendly, empathetic social care practitioner regarding the difficulties they are experiencing. The worker will look at both what works well for the client, as well as what isn’t working so well. From this there is a joint discussion around different ways that person may be able to help themselves or what additional support is available within the community. Designs in Mind at our Mental Health Day event
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0hZwDEPUdw
Shropshire Libraries
Our libraries provide of books, support and advice available to help residents to live a healthy lifestyle and manage conditions. Below is a brief overview of how libraries support people:
Books on prescription
Self-help books chosen by health staff and covering common mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression, and sleeplessness.
Books on prescription for dementia
Books offering help to people living with dementia, their families and carers. Each collection includes information and advice, personal stories, and ideas for therapeutic activities.
Mood-boosting books
Reading is a great way to relax and research has shown that it can be really good for our health. Ask staff in your branch for details of books hand-picked to lift your spirits.
Health information
Books to help you manage health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease plus leaflets from support organisations.
Family health
Information for parents and carers on raising children in good health as they grow. Your library also has picture books to help children to understand special situations such as bereavement and divorce.
Events
Regular advice events on health topics, relaxing Books Aloud sessions for adults and sociable reading groups.
Extra support
If you are a carer or have a health condition, you are entitled to a concessionary ticket. Your library offers a wide range of large print titles, access to RNIB subscriptions and audiobooks – and if you’re struggling to get to the library, ask about the Home Library Service.
Online
Use a computer at any Shropshire library to visit the Healthy Shropshire website for all kinds of support and information on how to make healthy changes in your lifestyle. You can also find local support groups on the Shropshire Community Directory, renew and request items online and download ebooks and emagazines free of charge.
Kooth
Shropshire Libraries are now working in partnership with the online mental health service for children and young people, Kooth. Kooth is a free online counselling and emotional well-being platform for children and young people accessible through mobile, tablet and desktop. It can be accessed through the computers within the libraries or on their own device using the free WIFI available in all libraries. Library staff have been trained to assist with the accessing of the website. Find out more on www.kooth.com.
Further information from Public Health England
- PHE exists Public Health England exists to protect and improve the nation’s health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. We do this through world-leading science, knowledge and intelligence, advocacy, partnerships and the delivery of specialist public health services. We are an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct delivery organisation with operational autonomy. We provide government, local government, the NHS, Parliament, industry and the public with evidence-based professional, scientific and delivery expertise and support.
Website: www.gov.uk/phe Facebook: www.facebook.com/PublicHealthEngland
Follow us on Twitter @PHE_UK @PHE_WestMids
- All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 3373 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th July – 13th August 2019. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all English adults (aged 18+).
About Every Mind Matters
- Please use the following Dropbox link to download additional imagery and film content for Every Mind Matters Also includes instructions to embed EMM on your website:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1gibu4rswkm8shx/AAD4bgDEc3pjBEmx8D7lnXODa?dl=0
- Every Mind Matters provides simple and practical advice to follow in order to improve mental health and deal with challenges like stress, low mood, anxiety and trouble sleeping.
- The campaign directs people to a new, interactive tool on the Every Mind Matters website that will give people a free action plan to improve their mental health. The website also provides advice on how to help others who are struggling with their mental health.
- Public Health England and NHS England have come together with a coalition of partners across the public and private sector to develop Every Mind Matters, including Mind, Mental Health Foundation, MHFA England, Samaritans, The Royal Foundation, Centre for Mental Health, Rethink, Time to Change, NSUN, What Works for Wellbeing Centre and Good Thinking.
- For more information on The Cart Shed charity (re Herefordshire case studies) visit: http://www.thecartshed.co.uk/
