Mental health is now the leading cause of sickness absence in the UK.

300,000 people with long-term mental health problems fall out of work every year.

And yet, people with mental health problems aren’t getting the support they need. 1/5 There are nearly 2 million people on a waiting list for mental health support. And 8 million more people have mental health problems, but aren't in touch with any NHS services. 2/5

Rishi Sunak today announced plans to review the fit note system for people who aren’t well enough to work, with a focus on mental health.

His speech continues a trend in recent rhetoric that is stigmatising, harmful, and inaccurate. The real problem isn’t the fit note system. It’s that mental health services are at breaking point after years of under investment.

We need to talk about this 😡

When will the UK government start taking mental health seriously?

Let’s look at some of the stigmatising language in this statement 👇 (1/5)

https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1770597271521931588

“As a culture, we seem to have forgotten that work is good for mental health.”

Work can be good, but forcing people to work when they’re unwell makes mental health worse, not better.

If people had the right support, they’d be less likely to end up off work. (2/5)

Mental health blogger Beth Matthews took her own life last year while sectioned. An inquest has found she received "inadequate care".

We must see urgent action. We owe it to Beth, and the rest of us with mental health problems who are being let down over and over again 🧵 (1/7) In the 2 months before Beth’s death, Lauren Bridges and Deseree Fitzpatrick also passed away while on the same ward.

Beth was a very vulnerable young woman. She was considered at a high risk of suicide, but she was also described in court as 'bright' and 'vivacious'. (2/7)

🧵 Many of us find talking about suicide difficult. But for someone who’s feeling suicidal, talking about it could be their first step towards getting help.

Here are some tips to help you when talking to someone about suicidal feelings this #WorldSuicidePreventionDay (1/9) Ask open questions. Questions that invite someone to say more than 'yes' or 'no' such as 'How have you been feeling?' or 'What happened next?' (2/9)

Student life can be new and exciting. But it can also be stressful, difficult and sometimes lonely. That’s why it’s so important to look after yourself.

Here are some tips to help you look after your wellbeing while studying.👇 (1/8) 1. Don’t take on too much. Try not to overload yourself with too many plans, especially during exam time. (2/8)

Trigger warning: self-harm.

Today is #SelfInjuryAwarenessDay. If there's someone in your life who self-harms, and you're not sure what to say or do, these tips might help: a thread. #SIAD (1/12) Try not to panic or overreact. The way you respond will have an impact on how much they open up to you and other people about their self-harm in the future. (2/12)

🧵 There's no question that the news is difficult to read and absorb right now. But we've got some things that might help you feel a bit less stressed. Settle in for a thread. (1/12) 1 - Limit your news intake.

Watching or reading the news can be a helpful way to stay informed, but it can also increase our anxiety or fear.

You might come across speculation on potential fallout and how it might affect the rest of the world, including the UK. (2/12)

For those of us with severe mental illness, getting a booster jab isn't as simple as it sounds. We understand. But did you know you can ask for reasonable adjustments? This includes ⬇ (1/4) 1⃣ a longer appointment time
2⃣ somewhere quiet to wait
3⃣ taking someone with you
4⃣ help if you're housebound and can't travel to a vaccination centre.

If you need any of these adjustments, you can ask for them when you're booking your appointment. (2/4)

Thread: Many of us find talking about suicide difficult. But for someone who’s feeling suicidal, talking about it could be their first step towards getting help.

Here are some tips to help you when talking to someone about suicidal feelings this #WorldSuicidePreventionDay (1/10) If you feel able to listen, ask open questions... (2/10)

Poor mental health can make earning and managing money harder. And worrying about money can make your mental health worse. It can start to feel like a vicious cycle. There's also a lot of stigma around money, and often we can feel ashamed to talk about it, or tell people we're struggling. But reaching out for support can be an important first step towards feeling better.

Thread: The PM made no specific mention of mental health in today's health and #socialcare plans. We welcome more funding, but we need detail on the funding for mental health social care. (1/5) Over half the current social care budget is spent on working age adults. And many people who need social care support live with mental health problems. (2/5)

If you're struggling with suicidal feelings at the moment, please reach out for support. You can:

🔹Use our "Get Help Now" tool > mind.org.uk/need-urgent-he…
🔹Contact the Samaritans > 116 123

(1/6) As the sun sets earlier, it's good to practice self care to maintain mental wellbeing. Here are some tips: (2/6) There are so many ways to take a break during the day, whether it's watching a film, running a bath or cooking your favourite meal.

For those of us with mental health problems, some of us may find masks feel very hard to cope with. But there are things you could try to help make the experience more manageable. (1/5) Covering your mouth and nose might affect the air you breathe, which might make you feel anxious or panicky. This can then cause other symptoms as well, like feeling dizzy or sick, which you might associate with the mask. (2/5)

Yesterday the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions @EstherMcVey1 mentioned us in a list of organisations who had recognised and welcomed changes to #UniversalCredit. We thought it was important to set the record straight. Here’s what we said in July when the Government first published its plans for moving people from older benefits onto #UniversalCredit > bit.ly/2zzxP2y