The NHS has launched what it calls a new ‘landmark’ mental health campaign, which aims to encourage people who are struggling to seek support.
Using the famous Beatles song ‘Help!’ as its soundtrack, the campaign is also being supported by some of the UK’s most recognisable music stars, who launched the message with a speaking rendition of the famous John Lennon-penned song.
Craig David, Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts, Tom Grennan, Laura Mvula, Ella Henderson and Max George, are among the famous faces that have leant a ‘helping’ hand.
Sony Music and Apple Corps donated both the lyrics and melody from ‘Help!’, while the video also includes a message from an NHS therapist and a few words from people who have benefitted from accessing NHS mental health support.
The campaign is running across the country, including in the South East, following the results of a national survey by NHS England and Improvement in 2020/21.
Around 427 of the 3,000 people who took part in the survey were from the South East, with 52 per cent of the 427 saying they were ‘concerned about their mental health’. Half also said they were ‘experiencing stress’ (50 per cent), with 48 per cent ‘experiencing anxiety’ and 49 per cent of people experiencing ‘low mood or depression’. The majority of those who struggled – 68 per cent – also said they ‘did not seek any professional help’.
However, NHS England notes that, since April 2020, ‘over 230,000 people in the South East have come forward for NHS talking therapies’ – a confidential service which people can access through either self-referral or a GP.
The NHS adds that it is ‘encouraging anybody experiencing anxiety, depression, or other common mental health concerns to come forward’ and see how the talking therapies service can help them.
To find out more about accessing mental health support, visit nhs.uk/help.
The video message is available to view here:
