NHS-backed mental health site launches in England

Public Health England and the NHS have launched an online service helping people to take simple steps to look after their mental health.

The move came after a Public Health England survey revealed more than eight in 10 people have experienced early signs of poor mental health including feeling anxious, stressed, having low mood, or trouble sleeping in the last 12 months.

Over a quarter (27%) of people who experienced signs of poor mental health waited at least six months before taking action to manage their mental health, with three quarters (74%) of those who waited this long wishing they had done so sooner.

The new platform, Every Mind Matters, shows people simple steps they can take to better prepare for life’s challenges.

Endorsed by the Royal College of General Practitioners, the platform will enable people to create a personalised action plan recommending self-care actions to deal with stress.

A special film to promote the campaign has been written by Richard Curtis and narrated by Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The film features a range of people whose lives have been affected by poor mental health including a cast of well-known celebrities: Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Freddie Flintoff, Professor Green, Davina McCall, Jordan Stephens, Will Young, Sir Bradley Wiggins, Nadiya Hussain, Sarah Taylor, Rob Beckett, Katie Piper, Joe Sugg and Alastair Campbell.

The launch follows 18 months of planning and local and regional piloting, developed with clinical and academic experts, national mental health charities and input from people with experience of poor mental health.

Clinically-assured by the NHS, Every Mind Matters is evidence-based and it shows people how to build simple changes into their daily lives – such as reframing unhelpful thoughts, breathing exercises and increasing physical activity.

This new resource is available for the public and for GPs to advise their patients to use. The NHS will also promote Every Mind Matters to its one-million plus workforce.

Anyone interested can create their action plans at Every Mind Matters