How charitable giving can provide real mental health support

Good mental health is as important to our wellbeing as good physical health, yet it’s an area of wellbeing that is chronically underfunded and consistently overshadowed. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to poor mental health, which means that too many cases go undiagnosed and untreated. The pandemic has done nothing to alleviate our society’s mental health issues; if anything, it’s exacerbated them, and the crisis is even more apparent than in ‘normal’ times. Giving can play a very real part in combatting the lack of substantial funding the UK mental health services receive, as is outlined in this US report.

The goal with donating money is more often than not to affect real, lasting change in society. Supporting the mental health sector is just one way in which this change can be achieved. Below are a number of ways in which additional financial support could be utilised by the mental health sector:

Support research efforts into mental health

Research into how and why mental health issues arise is key to moving forward to positive and effective treatment methods. Since the pandemic began, funds have – understandably – been diverted to support the NHS in the battle against the coronavirus. However, this has resulted in other areas of medical study being underfunded. The government has pledged to funnel additional funding direct to the mental health sector, however as it was an area already underfunded prior to the pandemic, this additional budget just isn’t enough on its own.

Aid societal access to the tools needed to prevent and treat mental health issues

In our current world of social distancing, one-to-one in person prevention and treatment tools just aren’t possible. Instead, the sector needs to pivot to the digital sphere, in keeping with our heavily technological era. Charitable donations could be used to support online clinics and support groups, and to open up access to the required electronic devices and internet connectivity. Something as simple as increased accessibility could have a massive impact on our nation’s mental health landscape.

Advocate for social solutions to reduce stigma

The stigma surrounding mental health issues manifests as barriers to treatment and support that is so sorely needed. It’s this stigma, in no small part, that causes so many cases to be caught too late, if at all. An invaluable way that public donations could be used is to advocate for social solutions to reduce the stigma attached to mental health, to open up the conversation and remind society that no one is immune to the issues.

There are so many facets of the mental health sector that require massive financial support, and charitable giving has the real potential to overcome the lack of funding the sector sees. It has the opportunity to push back against the stigma and lack of awareness surrounding mental health issues, to form the foundations of a more all-encompassing attitude to healthcare in society – one that cares as much about mental health as it does about physical health.