Last week marked Mental Health Awareness week. This year’s theme encouraged people to take action to support good mental health.
Mental health can be influenced by several factors, including living in poverty, poor housing, life experiences, social connections, chronic stress, and biological factors like genetics, brain chemistry, and acquired brain injury.
Whatever the reason, it is important to acknowledge how difficult this can be and ensure that the right support is in place.
I was pleased to see changes come into force since Labour was elected to Government in 2024. This has included the introduction of the Mental Health Act 2025 to increase patient autonomy, reduce unnecessary detentions, and update care standards. We have achieved our manifesto pledge of recruiting 8,500 additional mental health workers in England three years ahead of schedule, which will mean waiting times are reduced and community care is expanded.
As the Minister for Sport, one of the things that I hear from people the most is the benefits of sport for mental health.
I joined Swim England for a cold-water swim to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. Cold water swimming has several benefits, largely due to the body’s ‘cold shock’ response, which results in an immediate mood boost, as well as reducing depression and anxiety, enhancing sleep quality and improving focus.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve visited Manvers Lake, which has thousands of members from Barnsley, and gives local people the opportunity to look after their mental health by swimming and taking part in paddle sports.
Earlier this year, I was delighted to host a reception at 10 Downing Street to mark Brew Monday with the Samaritans, CALMZone and the Premier League to emphasise how a small, simple conversation can save a life.
Here in Barnsley, we have lots of great organisations who support the mental health of our community.
A few weeks ago, I was at Wombwell Main FC to meet Ged to hear about how walking football has changed his life. Ged joined the walking football team after his wife of 62 years, Phyllis, passed away, and says that joining the team helped to process the loss. This is exactly the sort of benefit that Mental Health Awareness Week aims to highlight.
Last month, I was at the Community Cafe in Hoyland, where Mick from Andy’s Man Club runs the Men’s Minds Matter group. This is a safe space for local men to pop in to speak about their mental health or just drop in for a cup of tea and a chat. Rebecca from the Community Cafe also runs a Women’s Mental Health Group for local women.
There are lots of other excellent organisations who work hard to offer support in our community. This includes the Samaritans of Barnsley, Rotherham and Barnsley Mind, ChilyPep’s Helping Our Mental ‘Ealth hub for young people in Barnsley between ages 11-25, and many more.
Looking after your mental health is vital, it’s right that everyone can receive the support they need. Our brilliant NHS workers are working hard to support local people, and I want to pay tribute to their dedication to deliver mental health support.
We can never speak enough about mental health, so if you’re ever feeling worried about your mental health, please reach out for support. You do not need to suffer alone, and recovery is possible.