Janine
Author: Tina Mendez. Editor: Janine Griffiths
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s essential to pause and consider our mental health.
While physical health often takes the spotlight, mental health is equally crucial, affecting our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
Mental health shapes how we think, perceive, and behave, influencing our responses to stress, relationships, and decision-making. Factors such as traumatic events, abuse, chronic stress, and substance abuse can trigger such as depression, phobias and various eating disorders for example.
Effective treatment typically involves a combination of medication, therapy, and support from loved ones.
However, mental health is perceived differently across communities. For example, some communities are at a higher risk of developing mental health conditions but are less likely to seek help or access talking therapy due to stigma, cultural differences, language barriers, and financial constraints.
Finding the Right Support
To find the right support, it’s crucial to choose a therapist who understands your perspective. Make a list of the issues you’d like to address, such as anxiety, stress, grief, or anger management, and search for therapists that specialise in helping with those issues. For example, if you are based in Leeds, you may be able to get help by checking out platforms such as Leeds Mind, Psychology Today, Black Health Initiative, and Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN).
These platforms provide directories of therapists, their fees, and their areas of expertise. When selecting a therapist, ask questions to ensure their skills and experiences align with your needs, and choose your type of communication, e.g, phone, face-to-face, or email for example.
If you’re unsure about a therapist’s suitability, most private services offer free initial assessments. Remember that therapy is a process, and it may take time to see results. If you feel your therapist isn’t helping, don’t hesitate to explore other options and provide feedback to improve services. Additionally, the NHS offers free talking therapy services that can be accessed through your GP.
Therapy, or talking therapy, is a valuable tool for addressing mental health challenges. It’s not a quick fix but a conversation that helps explore unconscious feelings and emotions related to life events. It aids in understanding responses to experiences and finding solutions, which must be applied in daily life for positive results.
Types of Mental Health Therapy
There are various types of therapy, each tailored to different needs. These include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This is useful for addressing depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and personality disorders.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
This is designed for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
MBCT helps prevent the recurrence of depression and manages certain types of anxiety and stress.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
Psychodynamic psychotherapy explores how childhood experiences and unconscious thoughts affect current thinking, feelings, relationships, and behavior.
Couple Therapy
This type of therapy assists individuals dealing with depression linked to relationship issues.
Guidance and Career Counseling
Guidance and career counselling aids in career progression.
In summary, mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being that should not be overlooked. Overcoming stigma and finding the right support can make a significant difference in one’s mental health journey. By understanding the available therapy options and seeking help when needed, individuals can take positive steps toward improving their mental well-being.
Where to Find Help
If you are looking for mental health support in Leeds, the following services can help:
Touchstone:
- Website: https://touchstonesupport.org.uk/contact-us/
- Phone number: 0113 271 8277
Mentally Healthy Leeds
- Phone number: 0113 248 4880
- Email: mhl@touchstonesupport.org.uk
Black Health Initiative
- Website: https://www.blackhealthinitiative.org/
- Phone: 0113 3070 300
Shantona Womens Centre
- Phone number: 0113 249 7120
- Website: https://www.shantona.co.uk/view/adult-mental-health-support
