Worthing Mental Health Awareness Week launch a new website and the programme for 2018
The organisers of Worthing Mental Health Awareness Week (WMHAW) now in its 6th year are thrilled to announce that they have a new website going ‘live’ today.
It can be found at www.worthingmentalhealthweek.co.uk
A crowdfunding campaign whereby gifts in kind were recognised by the Worthing County Local Committee who then generously awarded a grant to cover the cost of the website. It is the first grant in the Worthing area to be awarded under West Sussex County Council's new funding scheme.
The website was designed by Worthing website creator Stacey Church from Lime Pixel https://limepixel.co.uk who has worked tirelessly in order to get the website up and running in time for the annual Worthing Mental Health Awareness Week which coincides with World Mental Health Day (10th Oct).
for this year's Worthing Mental Health Awareness Week (8th - 13th October at Offington Park Methodist Church, South Farm Road by Broadwater Green) will be updated on the website, on Facebook and via #WMHAW on Twitter.
The aim of the Week is to challenge the stigma around mental health and to provide good quality information in a safe and non-judgemental environment.
Most of the events are free and are open to all. Local charities, organisations and groups will have displays in the 'Information Centre' and there will be a variety of workshops and talks designed to promote positive mental health throughout the week.
The week will be launched on Monday 8th October at 10am by the Mayor of Worthing Cllr Paul Baker followed by the Mayor’s Chaplain lighting a Peace Candle with co-founder Bob Smytherman acting as Master of Ceremonies.
The key note presentation this year will be by representatives of the local branch of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA).
Organiser Carol Barber said she was "delighted that SSAFA had agreed to talk to WMHAW about the ways mental health impacted on those in the Armed Services, Veterans and their families."
In the evening there will be a special Meeting of Worthing Rethink Mental Health Carers group run by Mark Hughes with a guest speaker from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Tuesday 9th will focus on keeping well in later life and include an open meeting of Dementia Friendly Worthing at 4pm.
On Wednesday 10th October which is World Mental Health Day. The organisers have asked Grassroots (a local suicide prevention charity) to deliver their SafeTALK (suicide alertness) training.
This will start at 10am and last for three and a half hours. This is the only event in the Week for which there is a small charge.
This training event is subsidised courtesy of the grant from the County Council at just £35 per person and includes a ploughman’s lunch provided by Offington Church places are limited and must be booked in advance by contacting Carol Barber.
Thursday's and Friday's activities include ways of promoting self-care and emotional resilience, and also the opportunity to paint pebbles as part of Coastal West Sussex MIND's anti stigma campaign called 'West Sussex Rocks'.
For more information https://www.coastalwestsussexmind.org/get-involved/anti-stigma-and-awareness-raising
A film will be shown on the Thursday night.
On the Friday evening the week will conclude with a free concert, with a retiring collection for Coastal West Sussex MIND.
The concert is co-ordinated by Karen Simporis and compared by Guild Care Trustee Mr Percy Nowell
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