The subject of World Mental Health Day in 2023 is “Mental health is a universal human right,” which serves as a reminder to everyone to raise awareness, advance understanding, and encourage action that will protect and advance everyone’s right to mental health.
Through our three projects – Starting Point, Engage Befriending and Rahab – our team of staff and volunteers are trained to take a person-centred approach and empower each person to take ownership of their own journey.
This includes mental health. We are advocates for helping people understand their own mental and emotional health, the impact it has on their lives and the options they have to seek help to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
- We care for the isolated older person through Engage Befriending. They now have more confidence in leaving their house and engage in local clubs and hobbies – which has improved their mental health.
- We care for the young adult who we met through our A&E Navigators (Starting Point) and were able to support them with a mentor. They are now enrolled in a course they love and are thriving. Their mentor listened and helped them make their own choices which became possible because their mental health improved.
- We care for the sex worker who, through Rahab, is being encouraged to make positive life choices which, in turn, has a positive impact her mental health.
Through our networks and partnerships we can referrer our clients to the right organisation to support their specific needs at that time. It is this understanding and encouragement that The World Federation for Mental Health is highlighting today.