This week is National Mental Health Awareness Week – 15 to 21 May – and a group of Swindon’s charities and community groups are putting on a programme of events and activities to raise awareness.
Coordinated by local campaign group Swindon Wellbeing, more than a dozen organisations are involved, providing information, help, signposting, and advice.
To help people in Swindon find the help they need, a new information sheet being released contains all the local contacts for services and support available.
The theme for this year’s awareness week is anxiety, and campaign organiser Jol Rose says lots of help is available, even as the demand for services continues to grow.
“Anxiety has never been such a problem. Coming out of the fear and restrictions of the last two years, we aim to encourage people to connect more, to talk more, and to get the help they need” says Rose, who works at Voluntary Action Swindon to promote collaboration across the voluntary sector.
Events during the week include walks in nature, talks on mindfulness and anxiety, arts for wellbeing sessions, and ‘drinks and natter’ for some relaxed socialising.
The Olive Tree Café, a social enterprise that helps people recovering or at risk from mental illness, will be serving ‘good mood foods’ all week, alongside their regular menu.
Swindon Hub – on the Parade in the town centre – will have an information desk with the new contacts leaflets and more information throughout the week.
All the details of Swindon events and activities for the week are at www.swindon-wellbeing.org
Getting people talking about mental wellbeing is another of the campaign’s aims. Director of Swindon mental health charity IPSUM, Julie Mattinson, wants people to become more open about what they are feeling.
“People are still often worried about sharing their problems with others” she says. “Everyone can have problems and it’s OK to ask for help. We’re lucky in Swindon to have so many great organisations – our new leaflet with all the contacts will help people find them”.
Supported by 20 local charities, community groups and Swindon Borough Council, the Swindon Wellbeing team organises events throughout the year.
“We want to help people stay healthy, and to sign-post to the help that’s available in Swindon” says Yazmin Taylor, Service Lead for business and training at Swindon & Gloucester Mind, one of the organisations leading the campaign.
“We’re always looking for more people to get involved, especially if you have lived experience of mental health issues – contact us via the Swindon Wellbeing website or social media” she added.
As well as the website Swindon Wellbeing can be contacted via Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
