Mental health problems are more common than imagined and one in four people will experience such difficulties at some point in our lives.

The statistic has been produced by the Department of Social Care as it launches Mental Health Awareness Week taking place from August 16th - 20th. The Social Services Mental Health promotion team wants to increase awareness that one needs to be concerned about good mental health and well being.

They are launching Mental Health Awareness week to promote some key messages about mental health and an understanding that:

• Good mental health is more than simply an absence of a mental illness.

• Mental health and well being are fundamental to the quality of life and productivity of individuals, families and communities.

• Good mental health and well being enables people to experience life as meaningful and helps to survive disappointments and times of difficulty.

• Just like physical health sometimes mental health is good and at other times it may be poor but can be recovered from illness.

• Many will experience difficulties or problems in lives which have a negative effect on mental health.

The Department’s Political Member for Social Services Mr. Bill Malarkey MHK said that Mental Health Awareness week aims to increase our understanding and highlights some of the ways one can promote mental health and well being, building resistance and ability to cope with mental health problems.

The Ambulance and Paramedic Services Promotional Bus will be parked at various locations around the Island between 16th to 20th August to promote well -being providing support and advice on mental health.

Director of Social Services Andrew Swithinbank said, “While providing a wide range of excellent quality care support and treatment services for people facing mental health problems and suffering from mental illnesses, it is equally important to intervene and try to prevent people from needing these intensive services.