Mental Health Awareness Week

It’s spring again, which must mean Mental Health Awareness Week (8-14th May) is just around the corner.  Aptly timed too as I’ve noticed mental health being discussed in some unusual places in the last month or so, football websites – mainly as a follow-up to the recent Rio Ferdinand documentary which looks at his struggle to deal with the loss of his wife. The bulk of these discussions have seen other (usually) men sharing their experience of loss and mental health in general – and how it’s not something to be ashamed of, but that they’re completely unaware of how to cope with it and where to go for support.

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is surviving or thriving – which ties in nicely to our Mindfulness courses. Mindfulness is a powerful tool that helps people to manage and support their own mental health by focusing your attention on being in the present. It’s clinically proven and ideal to help improve sleep, de-stress and reduce anxiety.  Once the practise has been learnt it can be used on an individual basis to help manage your own mental health on an ongoing basis – that’s how I use it anyway. However, I must add that it's taught and best utilised in group settings. 

On 11th May – right in the middle of Mental Health Awareness Week – we’ve a free Mindfulness class at the Stress Project from 2 to 3pm. Why not give it a go? It could help to give you the tools to deal with an unexpected difficulty that comes up in your life.

For more info on Mindfulness and our courses head to our Mindfulness page. 
 
Daniel, HNG Administrator