Why talk is cheap, especially in mental health

So this month, we're going to be looking at why Talk is cheap, especially around mental health. Now, as we've already discussed, we've seen in recent years a boom in mental health, everybody is talking about it. Every footballer seems to have put a documentary out about mental health, Royals are talking about how it affected them. Business leaders can't wait to share their stories, you've got fewer people not talking about their mental health and doing so.

This is fantastic. And actually, what is happening is, is the stigma and awareness around mental health is changing. So I'm all behind that. The trouble is, is that I think the talk is cheap, because it doesn't go far enough. I think we've now reached peak talk, where everybody's talking about it.

But actually, things aren't changing. We don't have services, we don't have places for people to go to and this awareness that quote, all you need to do with talk about it is actually really worrying. We've got time to talk day and time to change which are fantastic campaigns around raising stigma and awareness. But what we have now got is a very unhealthy narrative that all you need to do is to talk about mental health, and then we've solved it.

Firstly, I think that's a real insult to those that actually suffer from long term chronic conditions, we will a lot of the population who have to have psychiatric or psychological care. They're on antidepressants or drugs in order to manage their mood or condition. And, and for them just being told that all they need to do and talk about it. I think it's a little bit of an insult, I think talking about it's probably great. If you suffer from panic attacks or stress, anxiety, depression, you can share your story, you can get support from others, it might help you manage your condition.

But let's not forget about all of those with serious mental health conditions were talking just isn't enough. We've had 30 years of cuts in mental health services in the UK, where NHS policy has been to cut services in mental health and actually, for the more kind of subtle, and more mild mental health conditions like depression, anxiety and stress, though, isn't really talking therapy around.

When it comes to more acute and severe therapists, we've actually seen massive cuts in inpatient careers and stuff like that. So actually, people talking about it isn't the same as people being able to get services. Likewise, in companies, I hear lots of mental health talks and mental health sharing of stories, which is great.

However, I'm not seeing many organisations putting in place long term strategic comprehensive strategies, or actually putting in place the care pathways and health providers that needs to be put in place before we started talking about it. This is a topic I'm going to be exploring over the next couple of weeks.

And as always, I'd love your thoughts agree with me disagree comment below. But let's really have a discussion about whether talking about it is enough, or whether talk is just cheap.

Do you want support and guidance with an expert in the field? Mentorship with Amy McKeown is available - check out more info HERE