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Mental Health Awareness event proves a hot success

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Former Mayor and Mayoress of St Helens, Councillor Joe and Sylvia Pearson, were among the guests as St Helens Council’s Healthy Living team held a lunchtime get together during Mental Health Awareness Week

Over 50 people turned out at Wesley Methodist Church for a ‘curry, cuppa and chat’ at a lunchtime get together, organised by St Helens Council’s Healthy Living team, to mark Mental Health Awareness Week last week.

At the event – which was attended by a number of groups including ‘Get Together’ attendees, St Helens College students, SAMS Veterans, and CGL Integrated Recovery Service users – visitors enjoyed a cup of tea and a nice bowl of homemade curry while hearing about the team’s ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ campaign to help improve and protect mental health and
wellbeing.

The campaign encourages people to:

· ‘Connect’ with others in a variety of ways, including attending groups, volunteering and finding time to talk with friends and family

· ‘Give’ small acts of kindness through acts such as volunteering; ‘Keep Learning’ in order to boost confidence

· ‘keep learning’ in order to boost confidence;

· ‘Be Active’ to make you feel and function better

· ‘Take Notice’ of our thoughts and feelings and the world around us, especially in the present moment (‘Mindfulness’), which can positively change the way someone feels about life, and what matters to them as an individual.

St Helens Council’s Cabinet Member for Better Health and Cultural Development, Gill Neal said: “The purpose of this event was to bring people together over a cup of tea, which some say solves everything, and something to eat to promote the ‘Connect’ side of the 5 Ways to Wellbeing campaign.

“Talking about how we feel is the first step to improving our mental wellbeing and helps reduce the stigma attached – so I’m delighted to hear that this get together was so well attended and got people looking at ways in which they can improve their mental health.

“Following these five simple steps can dramatically decrease stress and anxiety levels and help people develop a real sense of purpose from the opportunities available to them; whether it’s talking and listening to someone with a problem, helping and working with others, learning something new, or becoming more active.”

Every Tuesday between 1pm and 3pm, Healthy Living hosts a ‘Get Together’ session in Wesley Methodist Church, Vincent Street where members of the public can enjoy tea and a talk – and hear about all the exciting opportunities they can get involved in.

For more information, call the Healthy Living Team on 0300 300 0103.
Plenty of mental health and wellbeing support is available across St Helens. For more information, visit www.timetotalksthelens.co.uk

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