World Mental Health Day 2017: Inspiring social media posts and helpful accounts

10th October was World Mental Health Day, a day to stop and think about the importance of mental health. Mental wellbeing isn’t a given, and for some it is a struggle just to make it through the day. Sadly there is still a taboo on speaking about mental health issues and a lot of stigmatisation around the subject. Days like World Mental Health Day are important to break that taboo so we are sharing some of our favourite social media posts and accounts.

 

‪YAY! Today’s #WorldMentalHealthDay 🎉🎈Just a reminder I invite u to meditate/quietmind/pray on Instagram Live w/ me @4pm PST @btwfoundation‬

A post shared by xoxo, Gaga (@ladygaga) on Oct 10, 2017 at 12:55pm PDT

Lady Gaga made no secret of her own mental health issues and shared several Instagram posts in honour of this World Mental Health Day. She even went live on the social media website, inviting her followers to join her in meditation and/or prayer.

So our MIL prof went room-to-room to post this semi-colon sign.#WorldMentalHealthDay

Thank you, Sir Lloyd.
❤️❤️❤️

; pic.twitter.com/zCySdgOVD8

— eggsy (@Terrencioooo) October 11, 2017

Project Semicolon was started in 2013 by Amy Bleuel, who had lost her father to suicide. The project is built on the belief that suicide can be prevented and aims to reduce incidents. The semicolon itself was chosen because ït represents continuance. “Authors usually use the semicolon when they choose not to end the sentence,” Bleuel explained in the post. The punctuation mark has become a symbol of hope in the community, with people going as far has having it tattooed on their bodies as a permanent reminder that they can continue their story. On the Project Semicolon website you can find resources to help you cope with a range of mental health issues and connect with people when needed.

A group therapy session in Central African Republic is helping to heal children with PTSD https://t.co/SwpbUUAqPn #WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/oKXK0a2nb0

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 10, 2017

Al Jazeera shared an article about the NGO Action Against Hunger, which has trained local medical students and teachers to identify children with PTSD in the Central African Republic. The charity is now running sessions to help these children begin their healing process and deal with symptoms of PTSD, such as developmental disorders, night terrors and bedwetting.

Showing emotion isn’t a weakness, it’s a strength. #WorldMentalHealthDay pic.twitter.com/N2b7TbXDDu

— Nev Schulman (@NevSchulman) October 11, 2017

Nev Schulman, best known for his documentary Catfish and the MTV series of the same name, shared a short video in support of HeForShe about mental health and gender roles. The Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report 2017 showed that male suicide rates compared to female suicide rates in England are three times higher. Part of the reason so many men are at risk of suicide can be found in traditional gender roles. In the video Nev explains that boys are often told that men don’t cry, and many men do not feel comfortable talking about their feelings or seeking professional help. The video calls for men to open up about their feelings instead of bottling up negative emotions in an attempt to reduce these disturbing rates.

 

So it’s #worldmentalhealthday today. As someone who had a breakdown and was sectioned in my 20’s I’m here to tell you there’s no shame in talking about it if your struggling. I haven’t done too bad since! Go easy on yourself today, and get some help if you can. Xx @mentalhealthfoundation ✊🏾 #mentalhealth

A post shared by David Harewood (@davidharewood) on Oct 10, 2017 at 3:54am PDT

Britain’s own David Harewood shared his own story, having been sectioned in his 20s he is now known for his roles in Homeland and Supergirl. He wants to inspire others to speak out about their problems and proves that poor mental health doesn’t have to stand in the way of your dreams.

Open for a surprise. #worldmentalhealthday pic.twitter.com/sTDqDDwD23

— Hayley Bell (@HayleyBell24) October 10, 2017

Save this tweet for a rainy day. Hayley Bell took to twitter with these lovely surprise notes. Pick one at random and feel fuzzy inside.

 

A post shared by 116-123 (@116×123) on Oct 14, 2017 at 7:04am PDT

The Instagram account of the Suicide Prevention Hotline UK uses it’s feed to share visually striking and soothing images in a creative way. This free to call number was set up by the Samaritans in 2015 and is linked to helplines across the EU that offer emotional support. This is the number to call if you ever feel lost and like you don’t have anybody to talk to, the line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

 

It’s world mental health day so I wanted to share something that I hope will either make you feel reassured or offer you the equivalent of a caring hug through this post (I’d be squeezing you in real life if I could). If you have a mental illness, you are not alone. Those feelings you feel where everything is SO intense and you think you couldn’t possibly cope with them any longer, there are other people who feel that way too. Having therapy for my anxiety was the best thing I ever did. It’s hard work, it’s long, it’s challenging & I still have days where I feel I’m taking baby steps or falling behind, but ultimately my end goal is still there. To live a life I WANT, not a life I feel I need to settle with because my mind won’t let me. I’ve had days where I’ve cried for hours wishing I could just be “normal”, but what is normal? Everyone has something they are battling, whether big or small, whether they show it or not. We are all just human & sometimes we need that time to work on ourselves! Don’t be afraid to speak up, to share how you feel and to talk to those close to you! You are not your mental illness, you are so much more than it. You CAN be louder 🗣, you CAN be in control 👍🏼 & you CAN be stronger! 💪🏼 (If I can, you can too) ❤️

A post shared by Zoella (@zoella) on Oct 10, 2017 at 12:19pm PDT

Zoe Sugg is one of the UK’s biggest YouTube stars. Originally coming to fame through her YouTube channel entitled Zoella, on which she shares lifestyle and beauty videos, she has since launched a beauty line and written several books. Throughout her journey she has never shied away from talking about her own issues with anxiety even becoming the first “digital ambassador” of Mind, the mental health charity.

If you need any help or just someone to talk to

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

Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/

Project Semicolon: https://www.samaritans.org/

NHS mental health: http://www.nhs.uk/livewell/mentalhealth/Pages/Mentalhealthhome.aspx

Sally Wijers