EVEN in this day and age, mental health is still one of the great taboos. Despite the fact that nearly a third of the population will experience depression and one in seven of us will have some kind of mental health problem in our lifetime, it is still something that many people are afraid or embarrassed to talk about.

We 'Brits' are famed for bottling up our troubles and keeping a stiff upper lip. That is why some people fear that admitting to feeling low or stressed is a sign of weakness. But the more we can open up and talk about mental health, the more we will begin to realise that it is nothing to be ashamed of.

World Mental Health Day aims to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health. That is why I am lending my support this year. I'm a great believer in talking things through - discussing our feelings, thoughts and problems is just one of the many positive steps we can all take towards solving them.

World Mental Health Day is on October 10, but its aim to promote positive mental health is relevant all year round. For a free campaign pack, including a pocket sized 'Positive Steps' guide with tips on coping with tough times, put your name and address on a postcard to: WMHD, Health Education Authority, 30 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2HW.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.