Enfield Council is urging people to seek help if they worried about their mental health and is highlighting the support available in the borough.
Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, organisations are focusing on young people, the issues they are currently facing and what they need to help them grow up healthy, happy and resilient.
Research shows that one in four adults and one in 10 children aged between five and 16 years of age has a mental health issue; three quarters of all mental health issues are established by the time a person is 24 years old.
It is vital that sufferers seek help as soon as symptoms appear. But 70 per cent of young people and adolescents do not get the appropriate treatment at a sufficiently early age.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, Cllr Alev Cazimoglu, said: “This Council will have had a 60% reduction in funding received from central government by 2020 whilst continuing to see year on year increases in the number of vulnerable people with mental ill health who desperately need our help.
“Despite this, we continue to prioritise support for this really important area of need and to develop meaningful partnerships across the Council, Health and our voluntary sector which focus on people as individuals rather than an illness.
“You would not ignore an ongoing physical illness or problem and there is no sensible reason why you shouldn't seek help if you are suffering from a mental health condition,
“There is a lot of support available in Enfield for people who need it and we are keen to highlight the services available as we approach World Mental Health Day so everyone who feels they need help can get it.
“We are working to break down the barriers to accessing mental health services and remove the stigma around admitting you need help.
“Having a mental health condition is exactly the same as having a physical illness, the only difference is that you cannot see that someone is suffering.”
Organisations across Enfield including Mind in Enfield, iCan, IAPT, Enfield Disability Action, Enfield Carers Centre, ECYPS and Enfield Saheli have all organised events highlighting the services on offer.
You can find out what organisations across Enfield are doing to mark World Mental Health Day by visiting our health and wellbeing website.