Written evidence submitted by Mr Paul Graham (self employed administration support at Literacy Solutions) (CMH0022)

Mental Health in The Community.

We must help each other and look after ourselves.

Without going into all the details, I have over the past 28 years gained a good amount of knowledge of mental health issues/challenges. I am a Time to Change Champion and have a lived experience of psychosis from when I was 18 years old, my knowledge of mental health and self-care at that time was virtually zero.  I have over the past few years, because I have had a bit more flexibility in my work, planned and hosted a Mental Health and Best Practice Seminar in Burnley; I have listened to and learnt lots from other people.  The following is what I think needs to be done in my opinion.

Tackling Loneliness and Isolation.

There are a few high-risk groups of suicide, one group is Farmers.  This partly due to isolation in rural communities.

http://www.farmbusiness.co.uk/news/more-then-one-farmer-a-week-in-the-uk-dies-by-suicide-2.html

A leading farming charity is advising the farming industry to start looking after themselves mentally as well as physically 

•          Poor mental health is the biggest health topic in the UK at present – one in four people have been diagnosed with a mental illness and in farming, mental health issues continue to be of great concern (including depression)
•          The leading cause of death for people aged between 20 and 34 is suicide – approximately, more than one farmer a week in the UK dies by suicide (ONS)
•          The Farm Safety Foundation, the charity behind Farm Safety Week, has launched last year-long initiative to raise awareness of mental health amongst the farming community
•          International rugby referee Nigel Owens lends his support for the inaugural ‘Mind Your Head’ campaign, which launched on 13th February 2018.

Tacking Stigma.

The stigma associated with poor mental health unfortunately can prevent people asking for help, this may also affect the farming community, however it also affects a surprising group; Doctors, Health Professions including Psychiatrists are a very high-risk group of people.  The stoic I must be strong and not show any weakness attitude is not always good for our mental health, this applies to doctors, nurses, fire officers, police officers and managing directors etc. The main objective of Time to Change is to tackle stigma https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/ and end mental health discrimination.

My Top Tips for Maintaining and Improving Mental Health

• Try and have a good regular sleep pattern.
• Eat a good healthly balanced diet.  Eat more fish. Eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Take regular exercise, especially outdoors.
• Socialise.  Perhaps get involved in your community and help others.  Helping other people is well recognised to improve people well-being.
• Learn new stuff.  Reading, listening and watching can be helpful.  There are also lots of free courses available.
• If you are struggling do talk to other people.  Bottling things up is no good for anyone’s mental health.  We all need help at times.

If you do need some extra support and advice for you or someone you care for these are the charities and organisation’s that can help:

Re-Think Mental Illness  https://www.rethink.org/

MIND: https://www.mind.org.uk/

The Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/branches/pendle/ 116 123

NHS Lancashire Care helpline: 0800 915 4640

Housing and Education.

We can help ourselves, however with housing and education we do need some extra support from National and Local Government initiatives.  How can any one recover and maintain good mental health if they live in poor housing conditions.

We need to make mental health education in all schools compulsory and part of the National Curriculum.

Written by

Paul Graham May 2019

January 2025