Mental Health Awareness: Anxiety Arabella Simpson Hummersknott Academy

Mental Health Awareness Week runs from May 15th to May 21st, and it began in 2001. It aims to promote awareness of different mental health topics. For example, last year’s theme was loneliness. A new theme is set every year by the Mental Health Foundation.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues. Although we all feel anxious from time to time, it becomes a disorder when these feelings are excessive and interrupt daily functioning. According to a recent mental health survey (carried out by the MHF), ‘a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time’. This is why it’s important to raise awareness of anxiety, so that more people know how to cope with it effectively.

There are different types of anxiety (such as Social Anxiety Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and it can be caused by many different things. It can be influenced by things that happened in the past (like being bullied as a child) or by things that happened recently (like losing your job or money problems). Some students may develop anxiety disorders from school, which creates a negative cycle where anxiety makes it hard to complete schoolwork or do exams, which makes the anxiety worse.

Luckily, the are lots of strategies to deal with anxiety. Breathing exercises and looking after your physical health are both examples of effective and relatively simple ways to manage your anxiety. Sharing your worries with people you care about and trust can also help you feel better. However, if you’re still finding it hard to live with anxiety, therapy can help you create a personalized plan so that you can cope better.

Be sure to check your local area to see if there are ways to contribute to Mental Health Awareness Week, such as fundraisers. More information about anxiety and Mental Health Awareness Week can be found on the Mental Health Foundation website.