Today is World Mental Health Day. We’re all thinking about the mental health crisis in our society and how it just keeps on growing. It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of such a huge issue. We’d love to share how our work at SHASBAH is supporting the mental health of our community in the Sheffield region and how you can join us in making a difference.

The Problem

Did you know that people with long-term physical health conditions are statistically more likely to experience mental health problems than the rest of the population? 20% of people with a chronic condition will also suffer from depression, a figure which is 2-3 times higher than for the average British person. ¹ This is a truly heart-breaking situation which has a number of underlying causes, including loneliness, chronic pain, stress and discrimination.

Our Solution

At SHASBAH, we believe that a supportive community can make a huge difference to a person’s wellbeing. A community will reduce feelings of isolation by demonstrating that there are people who care. It boosts self-esteem through the building of peer-to-peer relationships. It helps diffuse stress by providing practical support and a listening ear. We aim to be that supportive community for everyone with spina bifida or hydrocephalus in the Sheffield region. But what does that look like on a daily basis?

• Regular, accessible group outings where peer relationships can be built and maintained.
• A team of trained befrienders available to meet on request for one-to-one support.
• Staff who have personal experience with SB/H and can help navigate the challenges involved.
• Small financial grants tailored to the needs of individuals, e.g. hospital-visiting and holidays grants.
• Special social events for mums, dads, teens, adults and the community as a whole.

Your Role

If you believe that SHASBAH can make a tangible difference to the mental health crisis in our society, then please consider joining us in our work! Experience the joy of being part of the solution. You could do this by:

• Volunteering – Come and get your hands dirty as part of the team. We’d love to harness your skill-set to help advance our mission, whether that’s befriending, event planning, fundraising or IT. Get in touch with Jess, our Volunteer Coordinator.
• Donating – Because we’re a small, local charity, any sum of money donated will go straight to the benefit of those who need it in our community. If you have an idea for a fundraiser then get in touch! We also love to partner with local businesses to help with raising awareness and funds. Donate to our support out work today.
• Spreading the word – Keep in touch by following us on social media and signing up to our newsletter and share the word about our work! We’d love to continue to do more and more for our beneficiaries and their families. Find our Facebook page here.

1. Depression in adults with a chronic physical health problem: recognition and management – NICE ↩︎