As the NHS has released figures showing more than half of people in the North East "were concerned about their mental health" in 2021, celebs including Craig David and Nicola Roberts have backed a campaign urging people to seek help.
Today, February 3, is also Time to Talk Day. It's a national event pushing people to speak up and be open about their mental health - and this year it coincides with the new video.
According to data from a poll of 3,000 people in our region, 59% had felt concerned about the mental health last year, with 51% experiencing stress, 50% anxiety and 45% low mood or depression.
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However, of those who reported concerns, only 37% had sought professional help.
Now, the new video seeks to encourage people who might be having a tough time to speak up and seek help - and people are reminded that they don't need to be referred to therapy services by a GP.
Laura Mvula also features in the video and said: "Through my own personal experience of when I had therapy on the NHS, it did so much for my emotional well-being just to know that someone was truly caring for me on a regular basis.
"It helped me see that things are temporary and however bad and permanent your situation feels, reaching out and sharing with someone you can trust is so important. It’s okay to ask for help – everybody needs it."
Heather Blackburn, who manages the Sunderland Psychological Wellbeing Service added: "It’s normal to feel low at the moment; the pandemic has affected so many of our lives and has led to many more people needing support for their mental health.
"Over a million people already use NHS talking therapies every year, but many more people still don’t know that we are here to support them, and that is exactly what this campaign is all about.
"If you are experiencing problems with anxiety such as chronic worry, panic attacks, obsessions, or are stuck feeling low, it’s important you know you are not alone and that it is okay to ask for help. No one should suffer in silence."
To mark Time to Talk Day itself, Hollie Edmondson, the NHS's North East and North Cumbria Suicide Prevention Lead said: "We want everyone to feel comfortable talking about mental health – whenever they like.
"Each conversation we have contributes to reducing mental health stigma, helping to create supportive communities where we can talk openly about mental health and feel empowered to seek help when we need it."
The idea behind the day is to speak up openly about the mental health struggles people may be experiencing - and to "start conversations" about the issue in order to normalise it.
Hollie continued: "For people who are struggling with their mental health, stigma is still a big issue, and talking to someone about it and asking for help can be one of the hardest steps to take.
"If someone does open up about their mental health, we know it might not always feel easy to know what to say. But you don’t have to be an expert to help someone through difficult times; just letting them know that you care, and that you’re there to listen if they want to talk, can make all the difference."
