World Mental Health Day

First observed in 1992, World Mental Health Day was started by the then Deputy Secretary General, Richard Hunter and the Mental Health Foundation describes the day as being, 'an opportunity to communicate with the general public about mental health issues.'

This year the Mental Health organisation is actively encouraging people to improve their mental health and state: 'It's important to take care of yourself and get the most from life. Mental Health is about the way you think and feel and your ability to deal with ups and downs.'

They recommend ten simple changes to improve mental well-being.

They are:

Talk about your feelings; Eat well; Keep active; Drink sensibly; Ask for help; Keep in touch with friends and family; Take a break; Accept who you are; Do something you're good at; Care for others.

For Andrew, World Mental Health Day is a particularly special day, as he has recently negotiated with major pharmaceutical company, Janssen Cilag Ltd for some of his illustrations to be used in their latest guide on the administration of antipsychotic injections.

Andrew's illustrations, used in the guide (part of the Mental Health Practice Essential Guides series), are taken from a narrative cartoon CD slide-show, which Andrew designed.

Diagnosed with Schizophrenia in the 1970's, the slides poignantly depict Andrews own private view of the traumatic experiences he faced on a daily basis, receiving humiliating injections as treatment under the old mental health system during time he spent in asylums between 1974 '“ 1991.

Initially twenty five thousand of the guides are being produced for inclusion with 'Mental Health Practice' magazine.

Andrew is delighted to have his illustrations used by the pharmaceutical company and said it is, "terrific" adding, "I can't think of a better use for my slides."

The production of the guides and the magazine coincides with World Mental Health Day, and of the guide as a whole Andrew said it is, "extremely sympathetically written."

One of the quotes within the guide which Andrew feels is of major significance, particularly on World Mental Health Day states: 'In mental health, the notion of recovery is not about a, 'cure of a condition of biological origin'; it's about the recovery of the whole person.'

Andrew, along with other artists, who are also service users from the local area, will be displaying his CD slide show at an art exhibition also commencing on October 10th, and runs for a week at St Leonards Arts Forum.

Andrew said: "As always, my hope is that my work will illustrate that narrative can be therapeutic, whether it's in written word, picture, musical or whatever form."

For further information on World Mental Health Day, visit the website at: www.mentalhealth.org.uk