Make Time for Mental Health
The WI is calling on members to take action to make it as acceptable to talk about mental health as it is about physical health. Find out more below.
Mental health matters as much as physical health. The NFWI urges all WI members to recognise the importance of parity between mental health and physical health, and take action to make it as acceptable to talk about mental health issues as much as physical health issues, and to lobby government for better support for mental illness.
Proposed by Callow End WI, Worcestershire Federation
At the NFWI Annual Meeting in June 2018, delegates were clear that action must be taken to improve the way we view mental health. The WI’s Make Time for Mental Health campaign aims to tackle the stigma associated with mental health problems and asks for better support for those who need it. It calls on WI members to recognise the importance of parity between mental and physical health and take action to make it is as acceptable to talk about mental health as it is about physical health.
Educational videos
To support federations and WIs in starting and facilitating conversations about mental health, we are launching a series of short educational videos.
In each, you will hear from a WI member with experience in this area, whether that be through personal experience or their profession.
The videos are accompanied by discussion guides, which have been produced in partnership with Rethink Mental Illness, and offer a timed agenda with suggested topics of discussion, as well as external sources of mental health support. All of these resources are free and can be used to help plan your meetings.
To give you an idea of what to expect, please take a look at a shortened version of one of the videos below.
If you would like to download the extended version of this and other videos plus our discussion guides, head over to My WI.
Campaign resources
Download the Make Time for Mental Health action pack.
Or to request a hard copy, contact the NFWI Public Affairs department: publicaffairs@nfwi.org.uk
How common are mental health problems in the UK?
According to the Mental Health Foundation:
Contact the NFWI
- Phone: 020 7371 9300
- Open hours: 9am–5pm Mon–Fri
- Address: 104 New Kings Road, London SW6 4LY
Or fill in the contact form... to email a specific department