Mental Health Foundation

Eid Mubarak to all those celebrating! 🎉💜

How much do you know about bipolar disorder? Today, on World Bipolar Day we’re raising awareness for this sometimes-misunderstood mental health condition. Bipolar disorder involves extreme changes in mood. These symptoms can be challenging to manage. Because the symptoms of bipolar disorder vary for everyone, it can take a long time to get a diagnosis. If you have extreme changes in your mood that last a long time, and are having an effect on your life, relationships, or work then consider seeing your GP. Remember, help is available to manage bipolar disorder: Bipolar UK UK has a mood scale and diary and more information that may be helpful. Mind has more information on the different types of bipolar, and how to manage them. #WorldBipolarDay

Too many young people are struggling with stress, without the tools they need to cope and support their own wellbeing. That’s where our StressLESS resource comes in. StressLESS provides practitioners working with young people with resources to support and empower young people with the tools they need to manage stress and protect their wellbeing. We’re delighted to launch our updated StressLESS resource - now freely available on our online platform. Get the resource: https://bit.ly/43qdT1Z

The additional cuts to benefits in today's spring statement risk being a disaster for our mental health. The Treasury need to start prioritising the needs of ordinary people and invest in their lives, instead of making cuts that fall on those who can bear them the least. If you’re worried about what today’s announcement means for your benefits, support is out there. Advice on money and benefits is available from Mind - call 0300 222 5782. See our website for more ways to find support: https://lnkd.in/etg-XSAi...

We're looking for a Financial Reporting Analyst to support our Finance team based at our London office. This exciting role will help ensure that the Senior Finance Business Partner and associated restricted grant budget holders have up-to-date financial information they need so they can easily and effectively manage their restricted budgets. The role can be full or part-time (32 or 26 hours) and is a fixed term contract for 12 months, with possibility of extension. Salary £31,350 plus £3,285 London Weighting pro rata. mentalhealth.org.uk/jobs

Netflix’s 'Adolescence' is one of those great pieces of TV that engages people for its own sake, but also drives a national debate about important issues. There are few issues more important than the safety and mental health of our children and young people. Many parents may be shocked at its portrayal of teenagers’ online life and the distress it can cause. If you are worried about your child, we have set out some thoughts and advice to help you understand their lives online. We’ve also outlined what we need to do as society to make sure we help keep young people safe. 📢 Let’s make sure the discussion that Adolescence has started leads to much needed action and meaningful change. 🔗 If you're worried about your child, read our advice: https://bit.ly/4bWtOY2

For Debt Awareness Week, we're highlighting how debt affects mental health - and the support that is available to help. Throughout the cost-of-living-crisis many people have had to turn to lenders and may be struggling to keep up with their repayments. The mental health toll can be really challenging, with increased feelings of anxiety keeping you up at night or making it harder to enjoy your relationships. It can make existing mental health problems like depression worse and all together, feel overwhelming. The mental health effects of debt can make navigating it an even more isolating and lonely experience. It's important to remember that you are not alone, and that there is support available to you. Want to know more? Join us for our Reddit ‘Ask Me Anything’ 26-28 March r/ukpersonalfinance. We’ll be joined by StepChange Debt Charity to ask all your questions on mental health and debt.

Today is Single Parents Day! Parenting is always full of challenges and joys, but for those raising a child on their own, the challenges can feel overwhelming. It can also be lonely. Our survey found that 31% of lone parents felt anxiety due to loneliness. That’s why it’s important that single parents have support networks, people they can talk to who understand what they’re going through. Our Small Talk programme for lone parents does exactly that. Peer support groups bringing parents together to share their experiences and offer laughter, hope, and understanding. Learn more about Small Talk and our work with lone parents here: https://bit.ly/4hjLJJj #SingleParentsDay

Last week, we landed a real victory in our work influencing the UK government. We helped to secure a backbench debate on mental health support for educational settings – after working hard to support Chris Bloore, MP for Redditch and the Villages, and his team to achieve this. We’re really pleased to say that, after achieving the backing of 42 MPs from across 7 parties, the debate took place last Thursday in the main Commons chamber with some fantastic contributions from members across the House. With one in five young people experiencing a mental health problem in recent years, this debate has never been more important. As part of the government’s response, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department of Education, Stephen Morgan MP, committed to every school having a Mental Health Support Team, and confirmed that 50% of schools will have access to one by April of this year. But we know this isn’t enough – no child deserves to be struggling with poor mental health – and every school in the country should have access to one as soon as possible. We’ll continue to press the government to publish a timeline for delivery of this. This short clip of the close of Chris’s speech sums up much of what we’re hoping for government to do in this area. We’d like to thank Chris for his hard work in pursuing this debate, and for raising the voices of our programme participants in his speech. The note Chris ends on is absolutely right – now is the time for action. And we’re going to keep on fighting for that action, holding the government accountable, and making sure that together, we build a mentally healthier society.

What does it mean to be happy? Today on International Day of Happiness, we’re reflecting on what happiness means and how it relates to mental health and wellbeing. Happiness isn't just about feeling happy in the moment—it's about nurturing a sense of contentment and purpose over the long term. It's about how we feel about our lives as a whole and the sense of self we cultivate along the way. Being mentally well doesn't mean we are happy all the time—it's normal to experience a range of emotions. Good wellbeing also means understanding and accepting them. 💜 While the little things that bring joy in our day-to-day lives are important, building long-lasting happiness comes from creating habits and routines that support your sense of self. How can you incorporate these mood boosters into your day-to-day? #InternationalDayOfHappiness