Mental Health Awareness Week 13th-19th May
Mental Health Awareness Week starts this week and the theme set by Mental Health Foundation is “Movement: moving for our mental health.” Physical activity may have many benefits such as getting stronger, fitter or losing weight but it can be very powerful in helping improve mental health in people as well.
Statistics provided by Mental Health UK show that people living with mental illness die on average 20 years younger than the general population, often from avoidable physical illness. What people do not realise is that physical activity and mental health are intertwined and by working on one aspect you will inadvertently work on the other. What this means is that you might do physical activity for the physical benefits but by doing this you are also increasing confidence, self-esteem and overall, a positive impact on mood.
The Wellness Service have a wide range of activities and courses booked in to help promote this week. The Wellness Service are delivering 2 Mental Health for You and Other courses within this week to Kirklees Council YEN which is for Kirklees Employees who are 30 years and under and to the Forget Me Not Children Hospice staff and volunteers. This course is a FREE 3-hour course which covers:
- What is mental health and perceptions associated with mental health.
- What does good mental health look like?
- Influences on mental health and coping mechanisms.
- Practical breathing techniques and relaxation.
- Mental Health in others and how to support someone in crisis.
- Resources for helping someone in crisis.
If this is a course that yourself or your community group would like to have delivered to them, please look at the Mental Health page (link here) to find out how to book.
The Wellness Service also delivers the Active for Life programme which is a physical activity recovery programme designed for people who experience complex secondary mental ill health and are currently inactive. Active for Life involves working with Health Coaches to increase your levels of physical activity. Working together may enable you to:
- Find activities you enjoy, and which fit with your lifestyle.
- Design, agree and follow a personalised activity plan.
- Develop confidence, learn new skills, and improve your fitness.
Throughout the scheme the Health Coach will offer an agreed level of support and encouragement to help you increase your activity levels and enjoy the many benefits regular physical activity can offer. Whilst on this programme the person has a chance to partake in:
- Active for Life walk
- Active for Life Activity Hour
- Active for Life cycle sessions
- 1:1 support in the gym and / or sports centre setting.
If this is the programme for you then please look at the Active for Life page (link here) to find out more and to see the timetable of all the activities available.