World Mental Health Day 2020 is on Saturday 10th October 2020. The theme this year is Mental Health for All. Greater Investment, Greater Access. Everyone, Everywhere. The World Federation for Mental Health set the theme every year. Check out there website here: https://wfmh.global/
MENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL
We all have Mental Health. As a result it is important to take care of it. Each and every one of us has to learn how to live with and interact with our mind.
Our experience of our minds changes and fluctuates throughout the day and our life. We go through periods where our mind is very busy and others where it is quieter. Whatever we experience is part of the human experience. It is almost certainly the case that someone has experienced it before or is experiencing it right now somewhere. As humans we have more in common than we have different. We are all in this experience of life and humanity together.
Our duty as humans is to look after each other and ourselves. This involves being aware of the mental health of others. Having discussions around our own mental health and the difficulties we face or have faced is important. Sharing information and being open is the healthiest policy both for us as individuals and for wider society. Can we reach a place where Mental Health is a topic of conversation for us all? Can we reach a place where mental health support is available to everyone across the globe?
COVID 19 AND MENTAL HEALTH
“Although the COVID-19 crisis is, in the first instance, a physical health crisis, it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well, if action is not taken. Good mental health is critical to the functioning of society at the best of times. It must be front and centre of every country’s response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently.” United Nations Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health, May 2020.
The above statement made at the Untied Nations in May 2020 clearly highlights the need to care for our Mental Health at this challenging time.
The World Federation for Mental Health
“The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) is the only international multidisciplinary, grassroots advocacy and education organisation concerned with all aspects of mental health. It was founded in 1948 to advance, among all people and nations, the prevention of mental and emotional disorders, the proper treatment and care of those with such disorders, and the promotion of mental health. WFMH has been an NGO in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1963 and we are in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) and in formal association with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI).” from https://wfmh.global/
Yoga and World Mental Health Day 2020
Yoga is a wonderful tool to assist both physically and mentally in response to the current crisis. It can help us keep our bodies in shape as a result of the strength and flexibility we develop from the practice. However, let us always remember that the aim of yoga is not to do a perfect downwards facing dog. It is not perfecting a hand stand. And it is not pushing our body beyond normal functional ranges of motion. The aim of the physical practice of yoga is to enable one to sit still without discomfort or distraction arising in the physical body.
The aim of yoga is to find a place of calmness or stillness. The final limb of Yoga, Samadhi, can be translated as the great freedom. It is a sense of liberation from the fluctuations of the mind. The aim of yoga is to develop the ability to have a healthier relationship with our minds. This is to be able to turn the attention away from the fluctuations of the mind. As a result of doing so we no longer over identify with the fluctuations of the mind.
How do we utilise Yoga to help?
How do we do this? The 8 limbed path of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali sets out how to do this. As a result we have a handy guide in this ancient text. It is a path that has been trodden by many before us.
How is a 2000 year old book of use to us in 2020? The reason it is still useful is because the human condition hasn’t changed. Our day to day lives look very different from 2000 years ago but the experience of being a human with a mind is exactly the same.
The journey through the 8 limbs of yoga takes us from behavioural suggestions, through physical postures, to breath exercises, to withdrawing the senses inwards, to concentration – meditation – the great freedom. As a result Yoga presents a series of techniques to help find a greater peace of mind. A good Yoga class will incorporate many of these aspects. Well trained Yoga teachers will infuse their classes with yoga philosophy, breathing exercises, postures and guided relaxations / meditations.
Greater Investment, Greater Access. Everyone, Everywhere.
There are some great initiatives starting to take shape as holistic health and wellbeing is being seen as very important. We are currently involved in a nation wide trial looking at the benefits of chair-based yoga. If proven to be effective this could result in NHS referrals to chair yoga classes.
Increasing access to Yoga is interesting to consider during the current global pandemic. As a result of moving our Yoga classes online we have have been able to continue teaching our students from the local area as well as welcoming people from across the globe to our classes. Students have joined us from across the UK, United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Australia, Canada, Spain, Germany, Italy and USA. The use of platforms such as Zoom has made Yoga more accessible than ever before. Anyone from anywhere is able to attend a yoga class if they have a digital device with a camera.
You can find details of our weekly yoga classes and book a place in our shop at : Shop
However, there needs to be a greater investment in Mental Health service provisions. Many people struggle to access help and waiting lists can be very long. Businesses need to take more responsibility for accessing help for staff and creating an environment where mental health is a topic which is discussed. As a result of reducing the stigma often attached to mental health people will feel more free to talk and as such seek to access support sooner.
We have free resources on our YouTube channel that anyone can access at anytime, anywhere. Check them out below and subscribe to our channel.
Further resources
The Mental Health Foundation website is a great resource: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
Links to some of our previous blogs on Mental Health:
Mental Health Awareness Week – helpful tips to deal with stress