40
AW
November 2018
Local residents Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa and Arun Kapur support the Every Mind Matters campaign
ou e’s wns?
Kalwinder at his graduation with his family
numb and passive most of the
problems can affect anyone at
time. I found it difficult to make
any time. I felt very low after my
everyday decisions.” He opened
dad took his life because he had
up to a work colleague from
mental health problems, it was a
the same cultural background
big shock to my family and me.
as him. “Talking to someone
It was only when I was about to
I could relate to helped me to
become a father myself that I
deal with my feelings and let
decided to seek help.”
go of things from my past. His
“I think it’s important to know
support and our conversations
that we don’t have to wait until
made me feel more motivated
we are struggling to take steps
to improve my mental health.
to look after our mental health,
I began to channel my energy
there are lots of things we can do
into writing poetry and creat-
to protect ourselves and prevent
ing short films which I still do
problems from escalating, in the
today.”
same way, we would approach
“For me, it was important to
our physical health. I’m really
speak out and take some posi-
glad that the Every Mind Mat-
tive steps forward, no matter
ters campaign is highlighting
how small. I’d also advise people
this.”
to have an outlet of some kind,
“At the time, it was really diffi-
whether it’s creative, written or
cult for me to express how I was
confiding in others.”
feeling to anyone, so I started
Looking after our mental health
to write down my thoughts. I
is not only good for us now, it
found this very therapeutic, and
can also help us deal with and
it kept my mind occupied. My
manage difficult times in the
notes later became the basis of
future as well as help us feel
On World Mental Health Day, Public
something we can do to look after
my book which I wrote to help
better, sleep better and help to
Health England (PHE) launched
our minds. Kalwinder Singh Dhindsa
others who might be struggling
us have more positive relation-
its Every Mind Matters campaign
from Derby and Arun Kapur from
and so that people know that
ships. To learn more about how
in the Midlands. The campaign is
Wolverhampton are both support-
they are not alone.”
to look after your mental health
encouraging adults to recognise their
ing the campaign and are speaking
Arun remembers the difficult
and create your own Action
mental health is as important as their
openly about how they dealt with
feelings he experienced and the
Plan, visit: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/
their own mental health issues.
impact this had on his life “I felt
Every-Mind-Matters
health, and there is always y mindphysical Matters EMM18-01
Kalwinder said: “Mental health
© Crown copyright 2018