World Mental Health Day, 10th October 2021 focuses on Mental Health in an Unequal World. This theme was chosen by a global vote including World Federation of Mental Health members, stakeholders and supporters. We are seeing increased divides between wealth and poverty. Ongoing inequalities due to protected characteristics have also been highlighted in 2020 which increasingly impact people’s mental health. According to WFMH , access to mental health services remains unequal, with between 75% to 95% of people with mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries unable to access mental health services at all.
Many people with a mental illness do not receive the treatment that they are entitled to and deserve. WFMH notes research highlighting the deficiency in the quality of care provided to people with a mental health problem. It can take up to 15 years before researched based medical, social and psychological treatments for mental illness are delivered to those in need.
At Moonstir, we are aware that the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental ill health not only affects physical and mental health, but it can also affect their educational opportunities, current and future earnings, job prospects as well as relationships. We all have a role to play to address these disparities and ensure that people with lived experience of mental health are fully integrated in all aspects of life. This means us as individuals, as organisations and our society must take action. At Moonstir, inequalities have been at the forefront of our mind for many years. We have seen and heard the heart breaking impact on those we have worked with. We want to embrace individual differences thus our provision of bespoke services is always aligned to meet our clients’ needs.
We need to act, and act urgently. At Moonstir, our provision of research-based psychotherapy is offered both online and in person. Rates and timings are also adjusted to meet the needs of individuals. We are also proud to work with local charities and businesses in addition to working with the NHS to meet the demands for therapy which we are currently facing us as a nation.
We are equally delighted to be providing holistic health and wellbeing services to organisations. Our most recent event on 6th October 2021 was a great opportunity to combine lifestyle checks with information sessions and one-to-one action planning with staff. The afternoon was well received but research tells us that one off events are not effective. That’s why dedication and commitment to wellbeing at work is paramount. At Moonstir, we continue to align the health needs of the workforces we work with to company strategy. Our top down and bottom-up approach works!
So, this World Mental Health Day campaign on ‘Mental Health in an Unequal World’ has allowed us to highlight the work we are already doing with individuals and local businesses. Let us be your partner and make every day a mentally healthy day.