Publish date: 8 October 2019

The first national NHS health campaign recognises that we don’t need to wait until we are struggling with our mental health to do something about it. There are lots of things that we can do to protect ourselves and prevent problems escalating, just as we do with our physical health.

The new Every Mind Matters campaign encourages adults to be more aware of their mental health and promotes simple steps to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

A new PHE survey reveals more than eight in 10 (83 percent) people have experienced early signs of poor mental health including feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood or trouble sleeping in the last 12 months. But over a quarter of them took at least six before taking action.

The campaign launched earlier this week with a film narrated by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, aired on national TV.   

Every Mind Matters offers a range of useful resources that help spot the signs of common mental health concerns, provides practical self-care tips and guidance and, importantly, explains when to seek further support.

It also has a free NHS-approved online tool on the Every Mind Matters website, which helps people build an action plan to deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, improve their sleep and help them feel more in control.

Use the tool now.

Simon Stevens, NHS Chief Executive, said:

“Over the past few years there’s been a profound sea change in public attitudes and awareness about mental health. So at the same time the NHS is expanding the availability of specialist mental health support and treatment, people are increasingly interested in practical steps they can take themselves to prevent and manage common mental health problems such as anxiety, stress and depression. That’s where Every Mind Matters comes in, as a helpful complement to the work of NHS mental health teams and services.”

To learn more about how to look after your mental health and create your own action plan, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/

Join in the conversation on Twitter and Facebook by searching #everymindmatters