To mark World Mental Health Day (10 October), we are highlighting the mental health inequalities that exist within our communities as we join in with the fight to ensure that mental health support is accessible and affordable for all.
To mark World Mental Health Day (10 October), we are highlighting the mental health inequalities that exist within our communities as we join in with the fight to ensure that mental health support is accessible and affordable for all.
Whether it’s down to socio-economic status, ethnicity, age, or gender, the gap in mental health support continues to widen, leaving vulnerable communities – particularly those from marginalised or low-income backgrounds – struggling to access critical services.
At Solent Mind we want to make sure that anyone with a mental health issue in Hampshire has somewhere to turn to for advice and support, whatever their background or circumstances. Our #MindTheGap campaign is highlighting the barriers of access to mental health support in our region and is asking people in the county to join us in the fight.
Sally Arscott, Solent Mind CEO, said: “Solent Mind’s service area is home to an exceptionally diverse range of communities, including urban and rural areas, areas of affluence and deprivation, and a broad range of cultures and ethnic groups. From this diversity stems a variety of needs, experiences, and barriers to access mental health support.
“Mental health support should be affordable and accessible to everyone, and we want to do all we can to reach as many people as we can.”
Shocking statistics show that in Southampton alone, the emergency admission rate for self-harm is 3.49 times higher* in the most deprived areas of the city compared to the least deprived. We need to help close this gap.
And, although Hampshire's population is less diverse than the national average (with 87.9% identifying as White British), urban areas such as Southampton and Portsmouth, have a far greater ethnic diversity. Southampton hosts sizable Polish and South Asian communities, particularly people of Indian and Pakistani heritage, while Portsmouth is home to a significant Bangladeshi community.
We have been working to better understand what mental health support these communities need, but there is more to be done.
To join in with our fight and help us be there for the people who need us most, please sign up to our newsletter and get behind your local Mind mental health services here.
Our Workplace Wellbeing Training team deliver mental health and wellbeing training sessions designed to help businesses and employees alike. We offer a range of courses which can be delivered remote or face-to-face, plus profits from training go back into our charity work across Hampshire.
If you're ready to make mental health a priority in your workplace this World Mental Health Day, here are some upcoming courses and events for you:
Sources: *Southampton Data Observatory; **ONS Census data 2021
Back to all news Become a memberA huge thank you to the toob employees who braved Solent waters to raise money for our charity.
9 members of staff from Celsius Hire bravely took on the Three Peaks Challenge, climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in just 24 hours. Their epic trek raised an incredible £5,864 for Solent Mind.
Over the school summer holidays, Solent Mind’s Heads Up project has been sharing the importance of mental wellbeing and the benefits of mindfulness with children in Southampton.
