A thread about #mentalhealthawarenessweek2020 (maybe controversial!)

The theme is kindness, which is great. We all need kindness, for ourselves & others. The link between kindness and wellbeing is obvious. But the link between kindness and improved #mentalhealth is less clear.

As in, kindness might improve quality of life if you are feeling unwell, or make you feel less alone and isolated - those great feeders of mental health problems.

But, kindness is NOT a treatment. Receiving kindness is not a substitute for accessing the care you need.

What people with mental health problems need is both. They need support, treatment, care, resources, time, empathy, and yes, kindness throughout all of this.

#mentalhealthawarenessweek should be about calling for all of these things!

At worst it seems trite to suggest buying yourself a gift or running a self-care kindness bath when what you need is specialist treatment.

Sure, when access to useful treatment (or treatment at all) is shockingly hard in some areas, the best we can do is be kind in the face of such unsupportive systems.

But we shouldn't have to be kind in the face of not getting what we need, to soothe injustice & fill in the gaps

My BEST friends are those who can tell me uncomfortable truths, and can be kind in doing so. Being cruel to be kind, or just being honest as an act of kindness rather than papering over the cracks.

Sure we need to be kind to each other and oursleves.

BUT, we need to be DEMANDING of our politicians, policy-makers and services. Systems need to be better - better resourced, skilled, and yes, kinder.

Let's not let #MHAW2020 be about papering over the cracks. Let it be about awareness of all the things that are needed - resources, support, care, RESEARCH, and throughout all of these, kindness.

Thanks for reading.