![\"Alice](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Alice-and-Josh-1.jpg\")
Alice Hendy founded suicide prevention charity R;pple after losing her brother Josh to suicide(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\nEvery year, one in four people in England will experience a mental health problem of some kind, meaning it’s more important than ever that we continue raising awareness of the subjectAlice Hendy founded suicide prevention charity R;pple after losing her brother Josh to suicide(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
In recent years, mental health<\/a> has become a huge topic of conversation. And with one in four people in England experiencing a mental health problem of some kind each year, and women being three times more likely than men to suffer, it\u2019s a subject we should continue to shout about<\/a> \u2013 especially during Mental Health Awareness Week, which takes place from 12-18 May.<\/p>\n This year, the campaign is focusing on the theme of \u2018community\u2019 and highlighting the role that positive communities can play. As well as giving people a sense of belonging and support, social connections can help people be physically healthier and happier too.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing part of a community is an important thing for social connection. If we look from an evolutionary perspective, we\u2019ve never done things in isolation. Everything is always done with a group, with a company, that\u2019s just how we do it,\u201d explains Practitioner Psychologist Doctor Ravi Gill (smartmindhealth.co.uk).<\/p>\n READ MORE: Emotional late night phone call to radio show saves man’s life<\/a> She adds, \u201cBeing around people helps to reduce our stress levels, reduce anxiety presentation, but also low mood presentation. This is because it helps to provide emotional support.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we think of good times, we have somebody to celebrate things with, but also during the negative times, that emotional support could be quite critical for stress, anxiety, depression. If you know that you\u2019re not navigating those things alone, it helps to increase feelings of belonging and purpose.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes what we find is for people experiencing depression, they feel helplessness and hopelessness and like they don\u2019t belong. Whereas having people around you increases that feeling of belonging and purpose, which can help lift us in our overall mood.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are some ways we can help ourselves, and others, improve mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n Get a hobby<\/p>\n The idea of finding a positive community may seem daunting, but this doesn\u2019t have to be the case. Dr Gill says, \u201cThink about what it is you\u2019re looking for. One of the most common things is to find somebody that enjoys the same things as you, so think about what kind of hobbies and interests are important to you and look for spaces that align with your passions.\u201d<\/p>\n Be socially active<\/p>\n Being socially connected doesn\u2019t just positively impact our mental health, but it can help our physical health too, with loneliness being associated with elevated blood pressure<\/a> and acute stress responses. \u201cBeing around people can also encourage healthy behaviour. For instance, going to Parkruns or joining a running club combines community with physical activity,\u201d says Dr Gill.<\/p>\n It\u2019s helpful to know the signs that someone may be struggling with their mental health. \u201cThe main thing to look out for is a change in behaviour. Are they more tearful, lacking energy, more withdrawn? Gut feeling is one of the strongest things when something doesn\u2019t feel right,\u201d says Samaritans listening volunteer Lucia Capobianco.<\/p>\n Let them know you care<\/p>\n Many people worry that reaching out will seem intrusive, but Lucia has some reassuring words. \u201cI think everyone has a fear they\u2019re going to make it worse. The truth is, nobody will mind you asking, \u2018Are you OK?\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cIf they are, and they\u2019re just having a bad week, they\u2019ll tell you. But if they\u2019re not, you\u2019ve given them permission to say so. You can\u2019t make someone open up, but the fact you\u2019ve asked lets them know you care.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018SHUSH\u2019 tips<\/p>\n If someone opens up, listening is key. \u201cThe Samaritans have a thing called SHUSH tips,\u201d says Lucia. \u201cS is \u2018show you care\u2019. You show you care by asking someone if they\u2019re OK. H is \u2018having patience\u2019, so give someone time. U is \u2018using open questions\u2019. S is \u2018say it back\u2019. It\u2019s powerful to use someone\u2019s words back at them to check you have understood. H is \u2018having courage\u2019. It\u2019s taking that first step to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018When Josh took his own life, it was devastating\u2019<\/p>\n Alice Hendy opens up about founding suicide prevention charity R;pple after losing her brother to suicide in November 2020…<\/p>\n \u201cJosh was a cheeky chappy. He was 21 years old. He absolutely loved his music and would DJ at his friends\u2019 parties. He was a very kind person, always looking out for other people and wanting to make them happy.<\/p>\n \u201cI was the older sister. There was a seven-year age gap between us, so I was quite protective of him and made sure he was doing well in his studies. We grew up in a tight-knit family. It was Josh, myself and our parents and we would do everything together. When I was told Josh had taken his life, my life stopped. It was just devastating.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the worst thing that could ever have happened to me so it\u2019s a scary world<\/a> for me now. Nothing else will ever be as bad as what\u2019s already happened.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we lost Josh, we went through his devices and dived into what he was doing in the months leading up to his death. What I found was Josh had been making harmful internet searches and I couldn\u2019t believe there had been no intervention. There was nothing there to stop him, to make him pause and to tell him that there was a different, more hopeful path.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause nothing existed, I decided to create my own idea, r;pple. It is dedicated to intercepting harmful content. It gave me a purpose and a reason to get up in the morning, and it still does. If I can stop this from happening to other families, that can only be a positive thing.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Hands-love-and-care-touching-in-support-trust-or-unity-for-community-compassion-or-understanding.j.jpeg\")
One in four people in England experience a mental health problem of some kind each year(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Young](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Young-woman-consoling-her-friend-on-the-public-park.jpg\")
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘community'(Image: Getty Images)Warning signs<\/p>\n![\"Alice](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Alice-Hendyjpeg.jpg\")
Alice has opened up about her brother Josh(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n