Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

What is it?

Mental health awareness week (15-25 May) is aimed at raising awareness that any of us can be affected by mental health difficulties in our lifetime. Here at Wonderfully Made Women, we are passionate about ensuring women are empowered and supported to speak out about their difficulties and challenge the stigma around mental health illness. As the mental health foundation sets a theme each year, this week is all about ANXIETY. Typically, anxiety is a natural biological response to threats to help us escape stressful situations; many of us will know this as the ‘fight or flight’ response. Sometimes, this mechanism can get overactivated, impacting how we function daily. Common symptoms can be:

• Excessive worrying

• Irritability

• Muscle tension

• Sleep disturbance (unable to fall asleep or stay asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)

• Restlessness/uneasy feelings

• Fatigue

• Panic attacks (elevated heart rate, panic, feeling as though you can’t get enough air)

Why is it important?

Focus on mental well-being is especially important in the current cost of living crisis. Many mothers are experiencing increased pressure and anxiety over how to support their families during this time. Some are also on low incomes, which makes providing a home, food, and clothing a major concern for many. As a result, prioritising mental health can be especially hard right now. As millions of women’s mental health have been affected by this crisis, it is important to spread awareness and acknowledge this in our communities to remind you that you are not alone. Whilst Wonderfully Made Women cannot fix this living crisis, we can offer a space to feel heard, make new friends, and share tips to help you manage.