Mental Health Awareness Week 15-21st May

Mental Health Awareness Week is hosted every May by the Mental Health Foundation. Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 will take place from the 15th-21st of May with the theme of Anxiety. The annual event is an opportunity for us to focus on achieving good mental health. The event has grown to become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally.  
 
Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. Focusing on anxiety for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people’s awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, we will keep up the pressure to demand change – making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole.
 
As well as the national events, Derbyshire County Council Mental Health Team have been working with local partners in Chesterfield to support ‘Mental Health Awareness Week 2023’ and incorporate the theme of ‘Anxiety’. The programme of free virtual and face to face sessions and activities throughout can be downloaded here.
 
Further events that have been planned that week can be viewed below, also a toolkit of Mental Health resources that have been developed by the Mental Health Team at DCC.

Hobby talk:
Hobby-Talk is a hobby group run by men, for men, who feel isolated or who have hidden and or mental illnesses.
On Wednesday 17th May they will be hosting a mental health and wellness evening just for men at Chesterfield Football Club, 7pm-9pm. They will be promoting relaxation techniques, calmness, inner healing and self-forgiveness. They will be having two special guests, one doing a guided meditation and the other doing Reiki on anybody who wishes to try this for free.
If you are interested in finding out more about Hobby Talk please contact Wayne Pearson at hthobbytalk@gmail.com
 
Mindscapes:  
This is Photography using a mindfulness approach, delivered in a peer support environment. Any phone or camera welcome and no experience needed. Tuesday 16th May 10am ends 1pm at The Hub, Low Pavements, Chesterfield, S40 1PB. This group happens every Tue morning.
 
Arts and Minds:
Join in with all sorts of easy arty activities, hosted by Ian every Wednesday at The Hub, Low Pavements, Chesterfield, S40 1PB. No appointment needed, drop-in anytime. Free!
 
DCC Toolkit of resources-
DCC are building a new mental health toolkit which will include different sections on a wide range on mental health conditions. There is now an Anxiety folder within this. It has resources for a wide range of messages around anxiety including exams, eating disorders and the Let’s Chat project. DCC will be adding to the toolkit and these resources can be used throughout the year.
 
Please share the link with colleagues and partners which will be the central location for mental health resources or conditions relating to mental health. https://bit.ly/DerbyshireMHToolKit