World Mental Health Day 2024: Every mind matters

One in four adults and one in 10 children experience mental illness. Every 10^th October, World Mental Health Day brings people together to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters. We are joining the conversation to raise awareness of the NHS resources available and to share our work to support healthcare professionals working with vulnerable communities.

Every Mind Matters

The NHS’s Every Mind Matter’s campaign aims to raise awareness of the support available for people struggling with their mental health, by signposting to their range of free, NHS-evidenced support available through the Every Mind Matters website. It is aimed at all adults but specifically highlights the challenges that face vulnerable groups and those most at risk of mental health problems.

At the heart of the campaign is the free, NHS-approved Mind Plan. Users answer five simple questions online to get a personalised mental health action plan with practical tips to help them deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, sleep better and feel more in control. To date, over 4.7 million Mind Plans have been created.

“Find your little big thing”

The most recent campaign from Every Mind Matters highlights that doing the little things can make a big difference to your mental health. This could be as simple as taking a walk in nature, prioritising your sleep or opening up to a friend. Your little thing, if you keep doing it, will make a big difference to how you feel.

Core Intercultural Concepts and Principles

Health Innovation KSS is working with NHS commissioners and systems leads, NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS), industry partners, other health innovation networks, voluntary and community sectors, and those with lived experience to support the spread and adoption of innovation in mental health.

Alongside out partners at ARC KSS and Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy Centre, we recently published a new intercultural awareness toolkit to support those working with asylum seekers and migrants. These groups of people face unique challenges such as trauma from displacement, cultural dislocation and the stress of adapting to a new environment. They may also experience language barriers, legal uncertainties and discrimination. The toolkit aims to provide those working with migrants and asylum seekers with practical tips to implement intercultural awareness within their organisations and tools to help build an understanding of their clients’ identities.

Find out more and access the toolkit.