Get involved in mental health awareness week

Mental health awareness week is fast approaching and Cheshire East is leading the way to make sure that people know where they can get support if they need it.

The theme for this year’s awareness week is stress. Research has shown that two thirds of us experience a mental health problem in our lifetimes and stress is widely considered to be an important factor in this.

Cheshire East has joined up with local partners to organise a week of activities in the borough, supported by a broad range of organisations including: the NHS, a number of housing associations, Everybody Sport and Recreation and several community voluntary services.

Activities to mark the week include:

• A ‘mindfulness’ session at Macclesfield Leisure Centre on Monday 14 May, from 7pm-8pm;
• Free mental health signposting event at Crewe Lifestyle Centre on Tuesday 15 May, from 10am-3pm;
• A ‘wear it green’ day on Wednesday 16 May;
• A Crewe central neighbourhood partnership event supporting younger people’s lifestyle choices – with music, arts, crafts and other information. The event is at Crewe Lifestyle Centre on Friday 18 May, from 6pm-8pm; and
• A community event at the United Reform Church in Wilmslow on Friday 18 May, from 4pm-6pm.

Cllr Liz Wardlaw

Councillor Liz Wardlaw, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for health, said: “The range of activities that are going on for mental health awareness week are really impressive and shows the added value that true partnership-working brings.

“We couldn’t be spreading this message as widely as we are if it wasn’t for the support of our partners. Stress is something that nearly all of us face at some point in our lives and, by tackling it together, we can hopefully reduce the impact of things like anxiety and depression and, in some instances, self-harm and suicide, which can follow.”

To keep in touch with what’s happening over the week, follow the hashtag #GoodMentalHealth4Cheshire on Twitter.