In the United Kingdom, individuals, workplaces, and community organisations are encouraged to think about how they can promote positive mental wellbeing.
While it is fortunate that mental health has become a more widely discussed concern over the past decade, there is still a long way to go before all people have access to the support and services they need.
For individuals, advocating for your own mental health can seem like a struggle at times. It can also be difficult to know what strategies are going to make a real and positive difference. From seeking psychological help to using prescribed medical cannabis, here are a few ways that you can go about protecting your mental health.
Mental Health Explained
Mental health is defined as a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. There are a number of factors that contribute to your mental health, from the environment you live in to your genetics.
The World Health Organisation defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which an individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”
When we talk about mental health, we often refer to specific conditions, like anxiety or depression. These disorders often prevent us from participating in everyday life. However, mental health can also be referred to in a positive context, just as we can talk about someone being physically healthy. As the WHO definition suggests, having good mental health means you can cope with the challenges that will inevitably come your way.
Mental Health in the UK
The first step to helping people achieve positive mental health is understanding how prevalent mental health disorders are amongst the general population.
The United Kingdom is no different to any other place in the world in that mental health conditions seem to currently be on the rise. Mind estimates that 1 in 4 people in England will experience some kind of mental health problem each year. In any given week, 6 in 100 people will be diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and over the course of someone’s lifetime, 1 in 5 people will have suicidal thoughts.
The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have only exacerbated these issues, if not simply brought them further into the light. Uncertainty, border closures, lockdowns, and unemployment resulted in increased numbers of adults reporting “clinically significant levels” of psychological distress at various points throughout the past two years.
Seeking Help
Fortunately, help is available. The Mental Health Foundation advises that if you are concerned about your mental health, your first call should be to your GP. They will be able to observe your symptoms and provide a tailored recommendation regarding treatment.
Those who have been suffering from conditions including depression, anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD for many years are likely to have tried any or all of the following strategies:
- Medication
- Speaking to a trained mental health professional (counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist)
- Lifestyle changes: getting more exercise, eating healthier, prioritising sleep
- Removing sources of stress (for example, changing jobs)
If you fall under this category of long-term sufferers and are yet to find a meaningful way to help manage symptoms, medical cannabis may be an appropriate option for you. Not all doctors will recommend medical marijuana as not all are qualified by the NHS to prescribe this medication. However, if you believe you could benefit from using medical cannabis to help manage depression or medical cannabis to help manage anxiety, it’s well worth finding a medical cannabis specialist to discuss your concerns.
Medical Cannabis And Mental Health
Medical cannabis has a long documented use in humans, having been prescribed by pharmacists going back some thousands of years. In 2018, the medication was legalised in the United Kingdom, making it a more readily available method of managing symptoms associated with psychological conditions.
Medical cannabis products contain a number of ingredients, including two active cannabinoids — THC and CBD. These cannabinoids interact with receptors found in our endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for a number of functions, including sleep, mood, and appetite.
These receptors are highly expressed in a number of key structures in the brain that relate to mood regulation, including the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. Patients suffering from long-term anxiety, PTSD, depression, and insomnia may benefit from being prescribed medical marijuana.
Your mental health is very important and should not be taken for granted. If you’re concerned about your mental or emotional wellbeing, speak to a doctor today about strategies you can use to help manage your symptoms, including medical cannabis for depression and medical cannabis to help manage anxiety.
Author Bio:
Bridget is a writer and editor, currently living in Melbourne. She is a copywriter for Newpath Web and loves working with words of all shapes and sizes. When not playing around with punctuation and grammar, she enjoys travelling and curating her Spotify playlists.