World Mental Health Day - message from Claire Murdoch CBE
Every year we celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10 October.
The theme for 2023, set by the World Foundation of Mental Health, is ‘Mental health is a universal human right’.
Achieving mental health for all doesn’t start and stop with NHS services; mental health encompasses every part of our lives; how we feel in our families, at school, work or college. That’s why, we, the NHS can’t do this alone. We need everyone to be with us.
I’m delighted to see the NHS's contribution to the nation’s mental health be heightened with the extra £2.3 billion pounds in vital funding.
I often say for mental health, a person needs: somewhere to live, something to do and someone to love. Without these three things, the impact on someone’s life can lead to a loss of purpose, feeling unsettled and feeling no one cares for them.
When we look at supporting a person’s mental health, we need to incorporate and look at all areas of their life. Working with our partners in local authorities and the voluntary sector is imperative for this.
As Chief Executive, I’ve never felt I left the role I had as a mental health nurse, every day while you take care of our patients; a large part of my day is making sure we are taking care of you – and working in the NHS is the best job, helping many others, but also thinking about your own wellbeing.
Mental health affects us all, directly and indirectly. On World Mental Health Day, let's focus on those three qualities: somewhere to live, something to do and someone to love.
Think about your role in the NHS, how mental health effects it; are you directly looking after mental health patients or supporting patients with mental health complications from a physical health issue, and think about your own mental health.
Working together - all staff at CNWL, in all services, with partners and in wider society, so good mental health really can be a universal human right.
Happy World Mental Health Day
Best wishes
Claire Murdoch CBE
Chief Executive, CNWL
