THE NHS has launched a new campaign using the iconic Beatles song ‘Help!" to get people in the South East and across the country to take better care of their mental health.

The initiative, which has the endorsement of some of the UK's top singers, will urge those who are battling with their mental health to get help.

With lyrics like 'Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,' John Lennon's 1964 song 'Help!' is the ideal soundtrack to get others thinking about their mental health.

Following a national survey carried out by NHS England and Improvement in 2020/21, 427 of the 3,000 people who took part were from the South East.

52 per cent of the 427 people said they were concerned about their mental health, with half experiencing stress, 48 per cent experiencing anxiety, and 49 per cent of people experiencing low mood or depression. The majority of those who struggled, which is 68 per cent, also did not seek any professional help for their mental health.

However, since April 2020, over 230,000 people in the South East have come forward for NHS talking therapies. This number is expected to increase as those who were surveyed said they were more conscious of their mental health this year. 

Olivia Falgayrac-Jones, Deputy Director of Clinical Delivery for Mental Health, said: "I know the past few years have had a huge impact on the nation’s mental health and our message to people is clear: the NHS is open and staff want you to come forward, so please seek help, either by referring yourself to the NHS talking therapy programme online or by contacting your local GP, particularly if you were one of the many people who felt unable to do so as the pandemic hit."

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!’.