PHE and NHS launch mental health platform

Public Health England (PHE) has teamed up with the NHS to create Every Mind Matters, a platform that will help people take simple steps to look after their mental health.

With 70 million work days being lost each year in the UK due to mental health problems, it’s increasingly recognised that taking care of our mental health is as important as maintaining good physical health. But at a time when only a third of people struggling with mental health issues can get access to help, keeping your emotional health in check can be easier said than done.

That’s where Every Mind Matters, comes in. The online platform, which has been endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) will help people take simple steps to look after their mental health and improve their mental wellbeing by demonstrating the simple steps users can take to be better prepared for life’s ups and downs.

A spokesman for PHE said users will be able to create a personalised action plan which will suggest self-care actions to help deal with issues, such as feeling anxious, stressed, having low moods or trouble sleeping, before they develop into more serious mental health issues.

Every Mind Matters is backed by a coalition of mental health charities and champions, including Mind, Mental Health Foundation, Samaritans, and more.

Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said he hoped the platform would help stop mental health problems developing before they start.

‘At a time when only a third of people with a mental health problem get access to any kind of help and support, it’s important to do whatever we can to help people take steps to stay well and try and prevent mental health problems developing in the first place.

‘We hope that this campaign will help increase public awareness of how we can all stay as mentally well as possible.’

The platform is available for the public and for GPs to advise their patients to use.  While some of the nation’s biggest companies from the high street, entertainment, sport and finance have pledged to adopt Every Mind Matters for their employees, customers and fans.

Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said the platform will complement the work of NHS mental health teams and services.

‘Over the past few years there’s been a profound sea of 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.’

Click here to discover simple steps for a healthier mind and create your bespoke action plan.

Photo credit: Pixabay