Press Release
30th September 2008
World Mental Health Day
Local groups host a week of awareness raising events
Local mental health groups are coming together to host a week of awareness raising events to celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10th October.
Charities United Response and Mind will be joining with the Western Sussex Primary Care Trust and other local groups to stage a series of mental health events throughout West Sussex. Aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues and providing people with information on how to look after their own mental health, the theme for this year's global celebrations will be making mental health a global priority.
Tuesday 7th October
10.30am - 4pm - Try it for yourself day in Midhurst, Catholic Church Hall, Bepton Road - Come and try your hand at everything from art to tai chi at this event organised by MIND in Midhurst. Highlights include:
10.30 - 12 noon - Art workshop
12.45 - 1.45pm - Tai Chi taster session
2.30 - 4pm - Music workshop
Tea, coffee and workshop materials are available (50p donation recommended).
Also
1pm onwards - Launch of 'Open Forum', DJ's café bar, Bognor - Users of mental health services are invited to the launch of this client led support and discussion forum (service users only).
Thursday 9th October
11am - Walk towards recovery, DJ's café bar, Little High Street, Bognor - Find out about the benefits of exercise with a bracing walk along Bognor's seafront, followed by a healthy lunch at DJ's café bar.
Friday 10th October
10.30am - 1pm - World Mental Health Day event, Alexandra Theatre, Regis Centre, seafront, Bognor - Join in the celebrations with complementary therapy taster sessions, handmade crafts, sign language demonstrations, raffles, refreshments, music and much much more. Local mental health groups will be giving out information on mental wellbeing and the services available in the local area.
Saturday 11th October
11am - 1pm - Sticky Jam, Sainsbury's in Chichester - By popular demand, local band Sticky jam are back to entertain you as you shop. Information on local mental health services will be available along with celebration balloons, ribbons and badges.
Mary Doran, who heads up United Response's work in West Sussex said:
"There is still so much stigma around mental health, yet with some 450 million people across the world having a mental health problem, it's an issue that we can't afford to ignore.
"This week of celebrations is a great opportunity for people to come along, have some fun and find out about the services that are available to them and their friends and family in the local area."
For more information, please contact Vicky Arnell-Smith from United Response on 01243 840886 or Saundra Trebble from Brighton & Hove MIND Advocacy Service on 01243 791906
Ends
For more information, please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on020 8246 5237 or 020 8246 5122 or emailsarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
Note to editors:
1. 450 million people across the world have a mental health problem.
Source: World Health Organisation, 2001
2. United Response is a national charity that works with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs - including some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
We provide everything from 24 hour care to a few hours of support a week. United Response is community based, working in many localities across England and Wales.
Our mission is to support people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to take control of their lives. We design our care and support around each person and work with them to achieve real inclusion, independence and citizenship for all. We support people across the whole spectrum of learning disability and mental health and have developed a range of specialisms in working with people with the most complex needs, particularly person-centred active support.
We are working towards a society where people with learning disabilities or mental health needs are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
We have won several awards for our pioneering work and for being a top employer. In 2007 alone, we were highly commended by the Charity Awards for our "Good To Great" approach to providing support, while the Charity Times named us one of the best six charities to work for in the UK. We are experts in the development of accessible communications.
United Response was founded in 1973 by chief executive Su Sayer. We are a top 100 charity, supporting more than 1,500 people throughout the UK at any one time and employing more than 2,000 staff.