World Mental Health Day 2023

Today marks another World Mental Health Day and Facebook has reminded me of a sweet poem about parenting I shared a few years ago called ‘They Tuck You Up’.

I’ve since learned it’s a rewrite of a famous poem by Phillip Larkin, who, in his inimitable way, presents a much bleaker view of parenthood.

As many relate to Mitchell’s sentimental words, others may also relate to Larkin’s. His relationship with his parents doesn’t read as you might imagine, but his struggles with depression are well documented.

In Larkin’s times, mental health concerns were commonly misunderstood and many people were left without the support they needed. I wonder what difference it would have made for him to have been able to talk openly about his struggles?

While our understanding of mental health has improved since then, many people are still finding it difficult to get the help they so desperately need.

Good mental health is a basic human right. Isn’t it about time we made it a priority?

http;//www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day/