SEPT CELEBRATES WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

To celebrate World Mental Health day on Thursday 10 October South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) staff at Basildon Mental Health Unit held an afternoon tea with a vocalist to entertain the patients.

SEPT staff and Executive Director for Integrated Services (Essex & Suffolk) Malcolm McCann manned a stand at Rochford Hospital with information and advice about better mental health and mental wellbeing. Rochford’s Maple Ward which cares for older people with dementia also held a tea party to mark the day with patients and staff getting involved.

World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The theme of World Mental Health Day in 2013 is “Mental health and older adults”.

Older adults, those aged 60 or above, make important contributions to society as family members, volunteers and as active participants in the workforce. While most have good mental health, many older adults are at risk of developing mental disorders, neurological disorders or substance use problems as well as physical illness or disability.

Over 20% of adults aged 60 and over suffer from a mental or neurological disorder (excluding headache disorders). The most common neuropsychiatric disorders in this age group are dementia and depression, and the stigma surrounding mental illness makes older people reluctant to seek help.

To find out more about World Mental Health day visit:

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs381/en/index.html

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