In this episode Nicoleta chats about the research and policy making in mental health with Sarah Hughes the CEO at Centre for Mental Health UK which has been at the heart of some of the biggest policy changes and investments in mental health for the past 2 decades.

Having seen family members struggling with mental health distress, Sarah embarked on a career in mental health - now spanning over 3 decades - in both community and secure units settings and is today bringing her vast experience into making policies and ensuring that mental health remains a priority on the government’s agenda. 

Looking back at when she started her career, Sarah remembers the terrible articles published by the newspapers about “mad people” and can see that the world is changing and the language is more fluid, but feels that there is still a huge amount of stigma and we are slow in understanding the causes of mental health conditions.

Giving the example of people that have committed crimes and go to prison, it looks like the society doesn’t always acknowledge their traumatic past and the fact that someone’s journey is complex, so we need to ask what’s happened to people rather than what is wrong with them.

Sarah shares her own experience struggling with post-natal depression, the stigma and the internalised shame she felt which took her time to get help, despite the fact that she had worked for 2 decades in mental health at the time.

Find that mental health does not cast you aside, but it brings you closer to others because mental illness is more common than we think and maybe greater than the prevalence rates we see in the studies which are expected to increase post-Covid.

In a digital world, driven by the pressures of capitalism and consumerism, we need to acknowledge that the external factors contribute to our mental wellbeing and we all need to take a trauma-informed approach when we talk about our mental health.

The Centre for Mental Health has an ongoing and multi-faceted role, undertaking research, translating evaluations and lobbying to convey the important mental health message to decision makers. It tells the truth to the power, anticipating the need for mental health support over the next year and keeps an eye and ensures the government invests in mental health healthcare as promised in their long term plan.

Involved in the Equally Well campaign and the Social Contract, CMH gives the government the opportunity to think about prevention in mental health, what they need to do now and in the medium and long term to create a mentally healthy society. This includes the economic society (not only equality, but also racial justice and poverty), wellbeing style and budget and asks the government to take action now and not leave mental health problems for the next generation.

Whilst CMH voice has the power to influence the governments’ investment in mental health and offer support, it is ultimately a sign of self-care for each of us to take individual responsibility and prevent mental illness. Use online resources, ask for help, advocate and join mental health campaigns and by contributing to the society you will feel a renewed sense of purpose that will improve your mental wellbeing.