Words by Smiley Team
PRESS RELEASE: To combat rising mental health problems across society, Citizens UK is launching a campaign to identify priorities for local mental health provision. They announced the project in a Smiley Talk broadcast on 26th April that is available to watch online here.
One of the project’s initial areas of focus is Barnet, North London. Here the community organising group will reach out to the borough’s population of around 400,000 people to collect information on local mental health needs. They will use the survey results to inform local mental health services and campaign to improve community support.
Community workers and members of Citizens UK joined the Smiley Talk to explain how the project will unfold. They included a local Rabbi, Miriam Berger; a fieldworker for two Jewish community groups, Hannah Arnaud; as well as Cathy Burnstone and Dora Qassim, members of Finchley Progressive Synagogue.
Citizens UK’s mental health campaign aims to use lived experiences to democratise mental health support and tailor it to local needs.
“When we work together to understand and articulate what our priorities are, then we can campaign for a better future,” said Miriam.
The project’s success depends on how many people engage with the survey. “This isn’t a questionnaire that should only be filled in by people with extreme mental health needs,” added Miriam. “Understanding everybody in the borough means that as many voices should be heard as possible, across the entire spectrum of needs.”
Tailored support in a time of need
Led by everyday people, for everyday people, the campaign is aimed at fine tuning mental health services at a time when people face heightened problems such as stress and anxiety due to Covid-19. Since the onset of the pandemic, mental health has declined significantly across all segments of the UK population, according to a study published by the National Centre for Social Research.
Young people in particular have felt the impact on their mental health. A Young Minds survey of children and young people found that 80 per cent of respondents’ mental health had worsened due to the pandemic.
As a student, Dora gave her insight to the problems faced by younger generations: “I think there are many issues that we didn’t expect to experience, not at the age of 16 or 17.” She highlighted the strain on young people of social isolation, digital exclusion from education and stress faced by parents.
Miriam concluded: “It really has to be every individual’s responsibility to look out for the needs of people’s mental health. It may not be as easy as washing your hands and wearing a face mask, but we really have to work out how best we can support each other, because otherwise mental health will be an equally devastating pandemic in society.”
Notes for Editors
About Citizens UK
With a mission of developing local leaders to drive positive change, Citizens UK is a network of communities working together on a broad range of issues. Their members include schools, universities, churches, mosques, synagogues, parent groups, health trusts, charities and unions, important civic institutions that connect every day to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
For more information visit citizensuk.org.
About Smiley Movement
Smiley Movement (CIC) is a nonprofit, sponsored by the original Smiley Company. With a focus on positive solutions journalism, Smiley News covers the work of inspirational charities changing the world through their frontline work in the community. With a mission of driving positive change, Smiley Movement empowers people and organisations doing good, connecting them to new resources and supporters through their matchmaking for good network, and through their Smiley Talks, inspiring other potential leaders and innovators to create a better world for us all.
