New mental health leaflet launched

The Trust’s Adult and Childrens’ Mental Health Services launched the ‘Get Help for the Person’ leaflet in support of World Mental Health Day on Monday.

The leaflet is available in GP surgeries, libraries, hospitals and other public areas and consists of contact details and information on statutory, voluntary and community organisations that provide mental health services in the Western Trust area.

Debbie Hunter, Health Improvement Officer at the Western Trust, said: “This year the theme of World Mental Health Day is ‘The Great Push: Investing in Mental Health.’

“We decided to launch the ‘Get Help for the Person’ resource to coincide with World Mental Health Day as we believe that investment in mental health is essential.”

The World Health Organisation estimates that by 2025 mental health and depression will be the number one global health issue.

She added: “The Western Trust is committed to the provision of timely and accessible resources related to the promotion of mental health and suicide prevention services.

“This leaflet will provide succinct information to the public who need to find out how to get help and where they can access it from.”

Brendan Bonner, Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (West), Public Health Agency (PHA), and chair of the Western Suicide Strategy Implementation Group, added: “The voluntary, community and statutory sector provide expert support services which literally ‘get help’ for a person who is in mental or emotional distress.

“The ‘Get Help for the Person’ resource is ideally placed in public arenas and promoted in a wide range of settings including GP surgeries, through mental health team or in libraries.

“I believe this resource is also invaluable to those working within the caring field as it details a wide range of support services relating to mental and emotional wellbeing right across the Western Trust area.”