So we must keep encouraging people to get help if they need it and keep working to eliminate the stigma that’s far too often attached to mental health so that people know it’s OK not to be OK. And we should be encouraged that more people, from all walks of life, are now talking more openly about their mental health and wellbeing.īut we know that, for every person who comes forward, there are more who’re suffering in silence. The strains of the pandemic have meant that the issue of mental health has been in the public consciousness like never before. We’re at an important moment for mental health. And today provides a perfect opportunity to share experiences from far and wide, and look at what changes we can take forward as we look to move out of this pandemic. We’ve seen a decade of change crammed into just 2 years. In England, we set up 24/7 crisis hotlines that have received 3 million calls since the start of the pandemic, and we used mental health apps and virtual consultations to provide extra pathways for care. A survey by the World Health Organization ( WHO) showed that the pandemic disrupted mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide.īut, although this was an arduous time for health systems everywhere, there’s a lot that we can learn from one another about how we handled this period of pressure and the new ways of working that we were forced to adopt. That’s over double the figure before we started our fight against COVID-19.Īnd almost half of adults have reported that their wellbeing has been affected by this pandemic.Īs a result, we’ve seen more people seeking help, both here and around the world, at a time when health systems were already under the greatest of strains. Our fight against this invisible killer forced us to take steps that, in normal times, would have seemed unthinkable, as we had to place restrictions on the social contact and shared experiences that bring us so much good health and happiness.Īnd, although these sacrifices were vital to slow the spread of the virus, we cannot deny that they’ve placed a strain on our mental health.Īround 1 in 5 adults in Britain experienced some form of depression in the first 3 months of this year. A pandemic which has brought so much heartache and devastation, and has led to millions of people mourning loved ones all across the world.Īnd we must also recognise that there’s been another – less visible – impact: the impact on people’s mental health. There’s never been a more important time to talk about mental health, after our shared experience of this pandemic. This year’s summit comes at a critical moment. It’s fantastic that, 4 years after the UK hosted the inaugural summit in London, it’s still going strong, and I’d like to thank Minister Véran and his team for organising this year’s event. Hello and it’s a real pleasure to join you all today.
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