Trust has a dignified approach to tackle World Mental Health Day
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust celebrated World Mental Health Day (WMHD) with information stands at a number of locations across Coventry and Warwickshire during the week leading up to and including WMHD on Saturday 10 October 2015.
They were raising awareness of mental illness, with this year’s theme focusing on Dignity and what that meant to people, at the same time helping to reduce the stigma that can be associated with mental health.
The Trust partnered a number of different organisations at the various events, including Coventry Samaritans, Mind and Rethink. Information stalls sited at West Orchard Shopping Centre in Coventry, Ropewalk Shopping Centre in Nuneaton and Sainsbury’s in Kenilworth helped in supporting these events.
The event teams engaged with a host of people of all ages from various communities from across the area. Heidi Portrey, Service User and Carer Involvement Officer for the Trust, said: “Our aim is to raise awareness of mental health illnesses, helping to reduce the stigma that can be associated with it.
“We found a lot of people, clearly offering support, with some sharing their own thoughts about any mental health issues they may have themselves, or that of a family member or friend, as well as confirming their own thoughts on ‘dignity’ and what it meant to them.
“Going out into the community is an effective way of engaging with our communities in order to achieve this”.