Let’s Talk Mental Health: organisations and activities ready for World Mental Health Day event

Residents across Shropshire are being invited to the Let’s Talk Mental Health event on Monday 10 October 2022 at Shrewsbury Abbey, in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury.

The event, from 10am to 2pm, has been organised by Shropshire Council’s Enable Supported Employment Services, and will include 25 organisations across Shropshire who’ll be offering support and advice and hosting a range of activities and workshops for people to try out.

Let’s Talk Mental Health event on 10 October 2022

World Mental Health Day is an annual event promoted globally by the World Health Organisation on 10 October, and nationally by the Mental Health Foundation. It aims at raising awareness of mental health and addressing associated stigma.

Organisations at the event include:

• Accomplish Group Ltd
• AGE UK Shropshire Telford and Wrekin
• Arts 4 Health
• Axis Counselling
• Brightstar Counter Punch
• Healthwatch Shropshire
• Hope Initiatives Grease Monkeys
• Joint Training, Shropshire Council
• Life Shed Ltd
• Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust – Wellbeing & Recovery College
• NHS Operation Courage
• Omega, the National Association for End of Life Care
• PALZ UK
• Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
• Shrewsbury Town Foundation
• Shrewsbury Samaritans
• Shrewsbury Street Pastors
• Shropshire Mental Health Support (Previously Shropshire Mind)
• Social Prescribing Community Development Team
• The Ark
• The Cavalier Centre
• Trident Reach
• Walking with the Wounded
• We Are With You – Shropshire Recovery Partnership
• Wolf Yoga for Special Needs

Shropshire Mental Health Support (formerly Shropshire Mind) will be showcasing their new ‘wellbeing bus’ at the event, and will be offering both stress awareness and mental health in rural community sessions.

Arts 4 Health will be offering an arts-based activity to promote mental wellbeing.

Renowned Top UK banjo player Dan Walsh will also be providing live music: don’t miss the opportunity to hear him play in this unique acoustic-rich environment.

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:-

“I am really excited that we are able to host our Let’s Talk Mental Health event this year at Shrewsbury Abbey.

“This is the first time since the pandemic began that we’ve now been able to come together to both celebrate World Mental Health Day and offer face to face advice and information to local people.

“The event will also offer people the opportunity to sit and reflect in the peaceful surroundings of the 1,000-year-old Abbey.

“So come along and find out what’s on offer in your local community. Meet new people, listen to live music, and have a slice of cake!

“For those who can’t attend the event we want to remind people that we have a host of mental health resources on our website, to help support people’s mental health and wellbeing.”

Clive Ireland, Chairman of Shropshire Mental Health Support (MHS), said:-

“Shropshire MHS will be providing workshops for stress management in its mobile delivery vehicle within the Abbey car park on 10 October, World Mental Health Day.

“A Calmer Cafe will also be open to everyone within the ground floor area of Park House: please drop in and see us.

“Another table within the Abbey will provide information on services that are aimed to reduce the impact of living in a rural county with restricted public transport.

“All of the workshops are in support of Shropshire Council’s World Mental Health Day workshops, bringing together a variety of charity’s, private and public sector within one location.

“Please help us celebrate World Mental Health Day.”

To find out more and to book your place visit www.shropshire.gov.uk/WMHDShrewsburyAbbey or just turn up on the day.

We’ve a large range of information and resources to support both children’s and adults’ mental health. Visit Bee U – Children’s mental health and wellbeing | Shropshire Council

and Mental health and wellbeing | Shropshire Council.

You can find out more about World Mental Health Day here World Mental Health Day | Mental Health Foundation.

 Further information

 About each organisation

• Accomplish Group Ltd – offer respite and residential services to people with mental health, learning disabilities, autism, and more. They offer placements to members of the community as well as step down services from persons within the hospital environment.
• AGE UK Shropshire Telford and Wrekin – is an independent local charity working in the local community to help older people. The organisation delivers services and activities for older people in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
• Arts 4 Health – is passionate about the importance of the arts in healthcare and the difference it can make to the experiences of patients and staff. Their creative arts activities take place on the wards and include visual arts, crafts, photography, music, dance, drama, creative writing, reading for wellbeing and poetry
• Axis Counselling – are a team of professional qualified independent practitioners who work with survivors of sexual violence. They offer impartial information to help the survivors make informed choices which is completely client led. We offer support in whichever aspect of their life they need with to help the survivor move forward with their lives. We will also help the survivor through the police investigation and criminal justice system should they wish to report.
• Brightstar Counter Punch – work with vulnerable people of all ages who struggle with their mental health and wellbeing, through boxing activities and peer support.
• Healthwatch Shropshire – are Shropshire’s health and social care champion and ensure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to patients’ feedback and improve standards of care.
• Hope Initiatives Grease Monkeys – offer an evening outreach programme that help NEET young people (not in employment, education, or training) between 16 to 24, to learn new skills in motor mechanics, develop confidence and team working skills.
• Joint Training, Shropshire Council – offer training for all organisations involved in health and social care, including family carers and people who use services. The service offers over 70 courses ranging from Dementia to Dysphagia, Mental Health First Aid to Managing Conflict, Safeguarding to Substance Misuse.
• Life Shed Ltd – offers 1:1 bespoke mentoring programmes for young people who find the school environment challenging. The programme provides a place where young people can grow in confidence, independence, and self-belief, becoming the best that they can be in a truly holistic sense.
• Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust – Wellbeing & Recovery College – who offer educational courses to support mental and physical health and wellbeing.
• NHS Operation Courage – offers support to veterans with mental health issues and looks at contributing factors such as housing and finances that contribute to this. They also provide a consultancy role for services working with veterans.
• Omega, the National Association for End of Life Care – Omega offer many services to support those over 75 and their carers with life limiting illnesses. One is a Chatterbox service, a telephone befriending service for people over 75, isolated or bereaved.
• PALZ UK – is a group for men and women who are living with various forms of dementia.  The group meets bimonthly with a guest speaker in attendance.
• Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust – will be offering information about involvement opportunities from the Public Participation Department, including community membership and volunteering.
• Shrewsbury Town Foundation – work with local communities through sport and physical activity, including exercise referral.
• Shrewsbury Samaritans – provide a listening service for people in distress 24/7, and provide support to ensuring that people who are at increased risk of suicide are supported.
• Shrewsbury Street Pastors – are volunteers who patrol the streets of Shrewsbury on a Saturday, with some Friday nights, between 10.30pm – 4am to identify and support vulnerable people, in particular in the vicinity of the River Severn. They work in collaboration with pub and club venues door staff and the local police.
• Shropshire Mental Health Support (Previously Shropshire Mind) –provide a diverse range of quality services across the county for the one in four people and their families acknowledged to be affected by mental or emotional distress.
• Social Prescribing Community Development Team – The social prescribing service enables GPs, nurses, and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services to support their health and wellbeing.
• The Ark – The Shrewsbury Ark provides ongoing support and day centre facilities for the homeless and vulnerable in our community.
• The Cavalier Centre – is a fully accessible state of the art equestrian facility located just outside Much Wenlock. The centre offers inclusive horse-based activities such as riding, carriage driving, vaulting (gymnastics on horseback), hippotherapy (physio on horseback) and horse care. It also has a range of other programmes and activities that help people develop life skills, emotional intelligence, and wellbeing.
• Trident Reach – support vulnerable adults with varying mental health issues, this can be in the community.
• Walking with the Wounded – Walking with The Wounded (WWTW) is a leading military charity which recognises that those who served, deserve. We do four things: employment, mental health, care coordination and volunteering which are saving jobs, homes, relationships, and lives for the veterans who are struggling since leaving the military. Walking with the Wounded gets those who’ve served – and their families – back on their feet.
• We Are With You – Shropshire Recovery Partnership – offers free, confidential support with alcohol, drugs, or mental health. The team support individuals with both psychosocial, pharmacological and holistic interventions aimed at reducing substance use (even abstinence) and maintaining a healthy lifestyle substance free.
• Wolf Yoga for Special Needs – offer 1:1 and small group tailored yoga sessions to individual needs.