Since 2010, through The CP Diary, I have and continue to explore mental health, emotional resilience, social and political change and its effects on our wellbeing. Today, as we reflect on the emotional toll of the last decade – more particularly the Covid-19 pandemic – it’s clear there is a mental health crisis and its landscape has shifted, but it's not just the UK.
But if we are serious about improving mental health, the question is: where do we begin? The answer lies not just in better services – though we urgently need them – but in personal responsibility. The journey toward better emotional wellbeing starts with each of us.
Over the last several years, the face of mental health has changed. There is a mental health crisis. According to the Centre for Mental Health, up to 10 million people in England alone are expected to need new or additional mental health support because of the pandemic. In the UK, many are still on waiting lists, with NHS mental health services being stretched beyond capacity. (Source: centreformentalhealthorguk). Mental health was briefly talked about at the beginning of the pandemic, but it's generally not highlighted or flagged as a 'thing'.
We don’t always "see" trauma, anxiety or depression, the way we see physical symptoms. This makes it easier for it to be ignored, overlooked, or minimised.
Long waiting lists; not enough therapists; and if you have to pay privately for therapy it’s often too expensive; also poor insurance coverage. What has happened? The pandemic has simply exposed cracks that were already there.
Even in 2025 many leaders avoid openly discussing mental health. It's often seen as a 'soft' or 'sensitive' issue.
But these pressures didn’t start at Covid-19. Brexit’s political instability, economic uncertainty, and deepening social division all contributed to increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness, emotions I’ve written about on my blog.
But mental health cannot be repaired with just policy alone. We each need to 'take control' to play a part in our own healing process.
We need to move beyond waiting for change from the top and start where we have control – with ourselves. Genuine mental health recovery begins with individuals recognising and responding to their own needs first and then the needs of others.
Taking care of your own emotional wellbeing is essential.
That means:
Ignoring emotional stress only pushes it deeper. Mental health self-care should be non-negotiable.
Each of us can make a difference by looking after ourselves and by supporting others. Whether it’s a friend, a colleague, or a family member, simply reaching out or 'being a listening ear' can help someone feel less alone.
This country has dealt with enormous social upheaval – from Brexit's impact on identity and belonging to Covid-19’s isolation. Globally, there are still too many people with silent mental health struggles. Many are still processing what they’ve been through. Supporting each other helps to rebuild the trust and connection we’ve lost.
On The CP Diary, I not only write from lived experiences, but write about mental health, lifestyle issues and politics and how those shape our emotional world. The truth is, we are all affected by what goes on around us and that means we all have a role to play, in rebuilding a healthier, more emotionally aware society.
Mental health recovery won’t happen unless we stop seeing emotional health as someone else’s issue. It starts with how we look after ourselves, how we show up for others, and how we hold our leaders to account for decisions that affect our collective wellbeing. When it comes to mental health, it's personal, collective and political.
The CP Diary invites you to start here: with responsibility, awareness, and compassion. This isn't just a healthcare issue – it's a personal one. This is where healing begins – in acknowledging what we’ve been through, understanding the weight we carry, and choosing to move forward together.
