SINCE becoming the MP for York Central, I have been deeply troubled by the number of people who have been in touch about different issues made worse by pressures placed on their mental health.

It goes much deeper than the closure of Bootham Park Hospital or even access to services.

As I have worked with constituents and services across York, it is evident that there are many, many things that challenge our mental health. This impacts on us all and can change at different times in our lives.

The pressure on young people today in school and across social media is taking its toll.

Work can be enormously rewarding, but insecurity in work or bullying can have the opposite effect.

Austerity has brought a new wave of trials to our community as people just don’t have enough money to see them through the week, with many worrying about debt.

The Universal Credit system, so difficult to navigate, has also failed to support people with wider mental health needs, while many people are also living in totally unsuitable homes, creating other anxieties.

In a time when multiple pressures are placed on us, healthy relationships can be put under strain, sometimes leaving us feeling alone to face a whole host of issues.

Others are being exploited with drugs or alcohol which have a serious impact on mental health, or have experienced traumatic experiences which have ripped through their normality, leaving a wound that needs healing.

By the time we reach our twilight years, things become even harder.

The changing face of family and community life and cuts to services has resulted in loneliness and, when coupled with physical challenges or dementia, mean that in later life we can feel increasingly isolated.

Others have psychological illnesses and require professional help. With our NHS under real pressure and short staffed, waiting for the support needed can add to the anxiety.

These things impact on all our lives.

But I must also highlight the amazing people across our city who are reaching out to find solutions to these issues. Organisations from Age UK and York Mind, York Neighbours and the multitude of youth organisations working tirelessly to support and help people.

I am grateful too to the professionalism of those working in mental health services.

I know they share my concerns about the unprecedented pressure on services with growing demand. Their invaluable work needs more support while at the same time we must explore new ways of assisting people.

This year my focus is to work across York to build a city-wide approach to improving all our mental wellbeing.

I have been inspired by Trieste, an Italian city which has developed a community approach to mental health, Dutch housing schemes facilitating independence for those with dementia, and projects across the country which have brought about greater mindfulness and resilience to help us all navigate our way through the challenges this world throws at us.

In understanding the breadth of need in York, I will work with services, businesses and communities to ensure we create a far more inclusive way of providing the very support that each of us need.