#talkaboutit - October Is Mental Health Month
Local Trust offers over 50 ways to get involved
South West London and St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) is celebrating October Mental Health Month with over 50 events across south west London. The theme this year is ‘talk about it’ which aims to encourage discussion around mental health and stamp out stigma and discrimination.
The mental health trust is also again running its digital photography competition - #Upliftingimage - where local schools, youth organisations, staff and members of the public can send in an image that makes them smile and uplifts their mood. The theme this year is ‘mental health through your lens’ with the aim of promoting positive mental health. The closing date for entries is 10th October and more details are available here. Prizes will be available for the best entries.
The many events being held by SWLSTG across south west London throughout October include:
Celebrating Black History Month with poetry, music and storytelling in Springfield University Hospital and Tolworth Hospital canteens
Pop-up ‘Problem Solving Booths’ across Tooting, Kingston and Richmond co-hosted with Hestia’s Recovery Cafés at part of the London Mayor’s #ThriveLDN
Annual Trust staff football competition on 6th October at Wimbledon
To celebrate World Mental Health Day: students and members of the community will transform the Recovery College with a ‘Butterflies and Banner’ creative art session on 10 October
A celebrity comedy Night Fundraiser for the Trust Charity on 19 October (see here for tickets)
9th Black Mental Health Conference and Black History Exhibition as part of Healing Our Broken Village Conference on 26 October
#Upliftingimage digital photography prizewinner announcement ceremony 31 October
Recovery College courses courses for staff, patients, their carers and family throughout the month.
Trust podcast series for Mental Health Month – weekly conversations with mental health professionals in October
This year there will also be a weekly podcast series which features different voices of mental health. Each week there will be an interview with a staff member who will talk about topics such as working in mental health including chats with psychiatrists, nurses, support workers and clinicians.
David Bradley, Chief Executive at South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust, said, "We are very proud to be celebrating Mental Health Month with many events throughout October.
"We know that one in four of us will be affected by mental illness at some point in our life and that 9 out of 10 people say that their problems are made worse by experiencing stigma and discrimination.
"These events are a great opportunity for the community to find out more about the work that we do and to get actively involved in challenging the stigma and discrimination that people with mental health problems still face today
"We would like to thank all of our event partners for helping us reach out to south west Londoners and I would encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”
Details on each event and booking information are available here.
September 21, 2017