Mind Norwich and Central Norfolk

Poor mental health affects more people every year in the UK than cancer or heart disease. Did you know that one in four of us in the UK is affected by a mental health problem each year? Living with a mental health condition can affect so many aspects of daily life, from our physical health, to our work, our homelife and managing money.

There are many different conditions that are recognised as mental illness, and these include: mood disorders, impulse control and addiction disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, sexual and gender disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, tic disorders, stress response syndromes, dissociative disorders, factitious disorders and somatic symptom disorders. Other diseases or conditions, including various sleep-related problems and many forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, are sometimes classified as mental illnesses, because they involve the brain.

In recent years there has been a big push for more open conversations about mental health and today in the UK 67% of people feel more comfortable talking about mental health than five years ago; a positive step in the right direction.

When we are experiencing poor mental health, we can often feel isolated and disconnected from the world. Joining a group can help reassure us that we are not alone – other people are also feeling this way. This can help move us beyond what we are experiencing and allows us to meet new people, build confidence and learn new skills. Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind offer a range of projects and groups to help people get support, get involved and improve how they feel.

At Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind they offer a safe space to talk, with a counselling service and confidential helpline staffed by a team of professionals and volunteers. Talking therapies can help us manage our thoughts and feelings and enable us to make positive changes. They can help us explore difficult events in our lives as well as experiences such as depression and anxiety.

Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind are always looking for volunteers who maybe want to develop their work experience in mental health, share their experiences of recovery, or are just looking at doing something rewarding. There are many ways to get involved, go to the Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind website for further details.

Norwich and Central Norfolk Mind campaigns to reduce the stigma associated with mental health problems, get a better deal for people with mental health problems and to champion recovery. They won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve.

Nobody should face a mental health problem alone. If you have been affected by this article and want to learn more about the services Mind Norwich and Central Norfolk offers, are interested in supporting your own wellbeing or someone else’s, are interested in volunteering or making a donation, go to their website:

www.norwichmind.org.uk