‘We’ve Come a Long Way’: Experts Reflect on Changing Attitudes to Mental Health
Written by Tyler Elleanor on 10th May 2025
This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week, an annual event dedicated to promoting understanding and support for mental wellbeing worldwide.
In the UK, the campaign has been led by the Mental Health Foundation since 2001, bringing people together to focus on securing good mental health for all. This year’s awareness week runs from 12 to 18 May 2025 with the theme “community” – highlighting the power of connection and support networks.
To learn more about why awareness still matters, we spoke to John Barry, a professional nurse educator, who reflected on how attitudes have changed over time.
Barry said: “The public’s views on mental health are completely different. I’ve been in the game for 20 years and I could confidently say 20 years ago when I spoke to my friends and told them they didn’t have a clue.
“I always say that I don’t blame people for not knowing it’s just that they were never shown it, and we still get remnants of that now.
“But I would say in terms of mental health we are way better, way further along than we were, we have still got a way to go – some people still have old-fashioned views.”
On progress, Barry added: “I’m encouraged. Men – we’re not so great at talking about mental health, so the fact that men feel more comfortable talking about mental health is a massive step forward. Back in the 80s I remember nobody talked about their feelings.”
We also spoke to Victoria Ward, a schoolteacher, who sees the impact of mental health issues both professionally and personally.
Ward said: “As a teacher I see a lot, but also as someone who has family who battle with mental health struggles daily I think the landscape for mental health has changed.
“I’m glad there is more knowledge and more support available. The first step is accepting that sometimes people need that extra support more than you can ever imagine.
“You see updates in the news every day about suicide prevention and charities like Mind doing incredible work.”
