Raising mental health awareness in the community

This month will see the second Mental Health and Well-being event held at the Pavilion, Grange Gardens in Grangetown, Cardiff.  This work is part of the Community Gateway flagship engagement project within Cardiff University and specifically aims to raise awareness of mental health and well-being issues within this diverse inner city area, supporting residents to access help and provide a local facility where this support can be offered.

The event will take place on Monday 10 October to celebrate World Mental Health Day and will be facilitated by Alicia Stringfellow and Gemma Stacey-Emile from the School of Healthcare Sciences.  This year’s theme is ‘Dignity in Mental Health’ and this is reflected in the focus and programme for the day.

Working with local residents, third sector organisations and NHS partners, the event includes guest speakers and a range of workshops including those from Time to Change (Wales), the Alzheimer’s Society, Somaliland Mental Health, HAFAL, and NHS partners as well as many others.  The event will also offer the opportunity for local residents to become ‘Dementia Friends’, raising awareness of dementia within the community and to help Grangetown work towards becoming a Dementia Friendly Community.  Optional activities available on the day will include mindfulness and a creative workshop facilitated by Louise from the Stiwdio project.

Vaughan Gething, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport, will be attending the event in the afternoon.

A group discussion in the format of a ‘World Café’ will close the day. This will offer an informal conversational process intended to facilitate and promote open discussion and creative thinking.

For more information about the day or to book a place, please contact Alicia Stringfellow or Gemma Stacey-Emile.