Each year, Mental Health Action Week is used to increase understanding of mental health issues.
The week is used to campaign on an issue, related to the mental health of the nation. This year the theme is on Loneliness.
There will be a new report available from the 6th April about loneliness and mental health
To feel lonely is to have an intense feeling of separateness, to feel unloved, abandoned and full of anxiety..
There are many causes of loneliness including bereavement, single parenthood, unemployment, retirement and divorce, to name a few.
Addictive behaviour, anxiety and depression can cause people to separate themselves from their friends and family.
Someone with agoraphobia (social phobia) may be stuck indoors and cut off from the outside world.
Being 'labelled' as mentally ill, can lead to bullying and discrimination which brings with it, loneliness.
This action week is to bring this subject to people's attention. Maybe someone close to you is feeling the pain of loneliness or their mental health is suffering.
Or maybe you are feeling lonely or feel that you may have a mental health problem and need some help.
Visit Lanarkshires mental health website www.lanarkshirementalhealth.org.uk
Other useful sites:
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
www.mind.org.uk