July saw a sharp decrease in the number of calls; our lowest call rate since July 2020, but the calls that we are receiving are lasting longer. As always, our dedicated team of listeners are working very hard to ensure that this invaluable service endures and our dedicated shop volunteers continue to provide their time to allow the organisation to function. We couldn’t do it without you all. Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers.
The World Health Organisation World Mental Health Day is on 10th October every year. We are extremely excited to announce that we have a big event planned for Saturday 8th October, to tie in with World Mental Health Day. Our Masquerade Ball will be held at La Nueva Taberna on the Mazarrón Country Club. Tickets are €30, of which €5 will be donated to Samaritans in Spain and are available directly from the venue. We hope that you will come along and have a wonderful evening. We will also be running various events, in various locations, during that week to raise awareness of not only mental health, but also of our services.
Below is an interesting extract from the WHO website:
It is true that the pandemic has and continues to take its toll on our mental health. The ability to reconnect through World Mental Health Day 2022will provide us with an opportunity to re-kindle our efforts to protect and improve mental health. Many aspects of mental health have been challenged; and already before the pandemic in 2019 an estimated one in eight people globally were living with a mental disorder. At the same time, the services, skills and funding available for mental health remain in short supply and fall far below what is needed, especially in low and middle income countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global crisis for mental health, fuelling short- and long-term stresses and undermining the mental health of millions. Estimates put the rise in both anxiety and depressive disorders at more than 25% during the first year of the pandemic. At the same time, mental health services have been severely disrupted and the treatment gap for mental health conditions has widened. Mental health care must be strengthened so that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable and quality services and supports.
Stigma and discrimination continue to be a barrier to social inclusion and access to the right care; importantly, we can all play our part in increasing awareness about which preventive mental health interventions work and World Mental Health Dayis an opportunity to do that collectively. It would be amazing to live in a world in which mental health is valued, promoted and protected; where everyone has an equal opportunity to enjoy mental health and to exercise their human rights; and where everyone can access the mental health care they need.
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2022
If you think off-loading would help you, or if you know someone who needs to offload, Samaritans in Spain lines are manned from 10am-10pm every day of the year and our fully trained listeners are available if you need to talk. Remember we are here for you and together we are stronger, the number to call is FREEPHONE 900 525 100.
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