Mental Health Awareness Week

This #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, I want to speak directly to our community in Oldham.

We know the last few years have been incredibly tough—through the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and the everyday pressures people face. Behind closed doors, too many are struggling in silence. Mental health is health, and it deserves the same attention and care as our physical wellbeing.

In Oldham, 15.0% of adults aged 18 and over are recorded as having depression, which is higher than the England average of 13.2% (2022/23) (jsnaoldham.co.uk). Staggeringly, it is recorded that 1 in 4 adults experience a common mental health disorder like anxiety or depression (Greater Manchester Mental Wellbeing Report, 2023). That’s not just a number—that’s family, friends, neighbours and colleagues.

Our town has always shown strength in adversity. But strength doesn’t mean suffering alone. Whether it’s reaching out to a mate, speaking to your GP, or finding support through local services like TOG Mind or Kooth or the fantastic Andy’s Man Club, please know help is out there.

I’m proud of the work being done by local groups, but much more needs to be done nationally—proper investment in NHS mental health services, better access for young people, and parity between mental and physical healthcare. The Labour Government’s renewed focus on mental health—from pledging to recruit thousands more mental health staff to embedding mental health support in schools and GP surgeries is a huge step forward. It’s a long-overdue commitment to parity between mental and physical health.

If you’re struggling, you are not alone. Let’s keep building a community where it’s okay to say, “I’m not okay.”