Today, the NHS will launch a new landmark campaign using the iconic Beatles song ‘Help!” to get the East of England region taking better care of their mental health.

Backed by some of the UK’s biggest artists, the campaign will encourage people struggling with their mental health to seek support. 

‘Help!’, written by John Lennon in 1964, was credited by the superstar songwriter as one of his most honest and genuine songs and with lyrics like ‘Help me if you can I’m feeling down’, the song is the ideal soundtrack to get others thinking about their mental health.

Since the start of the pandemic, people in the east of England have come forward for NHS talking therapies, but new figures out today show that more than 48% of people in the east of England were concerned about their mental health last year – and around 45% also experiencing stress, anxiety, low mood or depression, with 61% reporting that they did not seek professional help – many more could benefit.

However this year people are more conscious of their mental health, with 56% planning to focus more on their mental health in 2022.

The NHS is encouraging anybody experiencing anxiety, depression, or other common mental health concerns to come forward and see how talking therapies can help them. 

NHS mental health talking therapies are a confidential service run by fully trained experts and can be accessed by self-referral or through your GP.  

And thanks to Sony Music and Apple Corps, who have donated the lyrics and melody of the Beatles classic to the campaign, top names from the UK music industry including Craig David, Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts, Tom Grennan, Laura Mvula, Ella Henderson and Max George, will launch the campaign with a speaking rendition of the song – encouraging more people to seek ‘Help!’. 

The all-star campaign, which will run across radio, social media, and on demand, is also being backed by a number of leading charities.

Helen Hardy, Regional Head of Mental Health, Clinical Networks and Transformation in East of England said:

“We recognise the impact and stress that the pandemic has caused people in the east of England over the last two years. At times we can all feel anxious, low in mood, worried or panicky.

“If this is impacting your wellbeing NHS talking therapies can offer support to help you overcome and deal with these challenges. You can access these services directly yourself or a GP can put you in touch.

“NHS talking therapies have been helping people since 2008, they are free, effective, confidential and support can be offered in a variety of ways to suit you.”