This year, a number of well-known names have stepped forward to become ambassadors for Mind, the mental health charity. The list now includes Saturdays pop star Frankie Sandford, comedian Ruby Wax and loose woman Denise Welch.

NOT ALONE
Mental health is not very well understood and so when people like Stephen Fry, David Walliams and the Mind Ambassadors talk about it, people listen. It makes it easy for the rest of us to relate to the subject and people we might know who are living with it. Frankie from the Saturdays, who was in hospital last year after being convinced she was a horrible person and ugly, said:

If people spoke honestly to each other, they’d realise a lot of their friends have problems like mine. [In hospital] was the first time I felt I was among people who really understood me.

GETTING HELP

One of the faces of daytime TV is This Morning’s Anna Williamson. After years of battling panic attacks and anxiety, she joined Mind as another ambassador, for reasons she explained to us:

It’s easy to forget you’re not alone and that one in four people experience a mental health problem every year.

Anna is adamant that it’s taking that first step that put her on the road to recovery, saying:

I know just how scary it can be to start the conversation worrying what friends or colleagues will think. But opening up really is the key to getting better. ”

MONEY WORRIES

Everyone is feeling the pinch right now and almost one in three people report

money worries to be their biggest source of stress and most think it will only get worse. Young people are feeling it hardest, according to research by Mind and MoneySupermarket.com.

The case of Stephanie Bottrill, who jumped to her death in May blaming benefit cuts, brought the issue of money affecting mental health into the spotlight.

Here at Quids in! we have heard many difficult stories over recent months from readers who say they are feeling depressed, or even suicidal. If you are, or someone you know is, affected by any of these issues then take that first step today.

Click here for our mental health advice and contacts.