As World Mental Health Day, 10th October, approaches, Bucks Mind will be promoting good mental health for all to everyone throughout Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire.
The theme for World Mental Health Day is ‘Mental Health for All: Greater Investment – Greater Access. Everyone, everywhere.’ To support this inclusive message, Bucks Mind will be posting a free video providing top tips for starting a conversation about mental health, which can be accessed by everyone at www.facebook.com/BucksMind
We also have a series of activities planned to benefit different people within the community. For example, we will be supporting the mental health of children and young people by offering a free mental health education assembly to all schools who take part in #MuftiforBucksMind on Friday 9th October, the day before World Mental Health Day.
The aim is to raise awareness of mental health within schools, encourage children and young people to start a conversation about mental health, help schools to support the mental wellbeing of students and raise vital funds for Bucks Mind’s mental health services.
“The response from schools to Mufti for Bucks Mind has been overwhelming, which shows their commitment to the mental health of their students,” says Andrea McCubbin, Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Mind.
“The pandemic has already had a devastating impact on the lives of millions of children across the country. It’s good that, for many, a return to school may mark something of a return to normality. However, we recognise that this is a hugely challenging time for everybody in the school community, from children to parents, teachers and support staff. We are delighted to be able to help by offering free mental health awareness assemblies.”
Further activities being held by Bucks Mind for World Mental Health Day include:
- Our Friends in Need peer support service will also be hosting a Virtual Mental Wellbeing Fayre on Zoom, which will provide short taster sessions of activities pertaining to the five ways of wellbeing; connect, be active, take notice, keep learning, give.
- Our Older Adults Service, for people living with dementia and memory loss, will be provided with a video encouraging service users and their families to have meaningful conversations with the aim to promote inclusivity.
- Our Employment Support service will be sending resource packs to all its service users. The packs, titled ‘Staying Well in Employment and Job Searching’, cover a wide range of topics, from the health benefits of working, Equality legislation and disclosing mental health concerns at work to chair based exercises
- Our Wellbeing Groups will be encouraged to explore how everyone has mental health and their own experiences of mental health issues through creative writing, art and quizzes.
- We will be holding a volunteer development session on World Mental Health Day, which will include the topics of inclusivity and diversity.