World Mental Health Day 2016 – A Recap
On Monday 10 October, we recognised World Mental Health Day – a global initiative for mental health education, awareness and advocacy. We wrote special blog posts about the importance of engaging with the voluntary sector to raise awareness of mental health, and about this year’s theme psychological and mental health first aid for all.
Our members and associate members also organised a number of events and activities…
Mental Health Foundation has provided a number of resources for people to get involved in World Mental Health Day. From their annual fundraising event titled Tea Talks, to a recent published guide on the impact of traumatic events on mental health, the MHF are promoting good mental health for all.
The National LGB&T Partnership published new resources to help those supporting LGBTQ young people understand their experiences better, and supply resources such as a directory of providers and a list of books with LGBT content for use in schools. Language and terminology can be a difficult area for those supporting LGBTQ young people, so the suite of resources includes two glossaries, one which addresses gender identity, sexual orientation and terms around discrimination, and another which focuses specifically on terminology which might be used by or about trans young people. All of the resources are available here.
National Survivor User Network (NSUN) is celebrating World Mental Health Day and their 10-year anniversary with the launch of a short film on who they are and their work throughout the years. The film is available here.
PSS hosted Workshop Wednesday [on 5 October], which offered a range of free and diverse workshops to the general public facilitated by experts from across Merseyside – all put together with the aim of improving our mental wellbeing. The day included: Happiness workshops, Laughter Yoga, Pet Power, Qigong, Music Circle, Mindfulness, British Sign Language, Reset Breathing Techniques, Making a digital CV and a reading group. On WMHD, PSS hosted Mental Health and Me, the culmination of a city wide creative writing competition where attendees heard shortlisted writers read their entries on the subject of ‘Faces, Places and Spaces’.