World Mental Health Day 2024
World Mental Health Day, celebrated every year on 10 October, is a chance for people to come together and talk about mental health and show everyone that mental health matters.
This year’s theme (set by the World Federation of Mental Health) is workplace mental health.
Here at GMMH, we are encouraging you all to check in with colleagues, families, friends to talk about our mental health and understand more about other people’s experiences too.
Across the Trust, there will be a range of events and opportunities to mark World Mental Health Day and start conversations on the topic. We've highlighted some of the ways you can get involved, along with a range of useful learning opportunities and resources below.
Recovery Academy Autumn Launch
The Academy is supporting this year’s World Mental Health Day theme of ‘It’s time to prioritise mental health in the workplace’
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace for the benefit of the workforce, organisations, and communities.
The Recovery Academy firmly believes in creating and supporting a positive mental health culture in the workplace. To this end, the Academy provides training and resources to support (mental) healthcare workers, peer workers, students, and wider workforce.
The Academy also provides bespoke training and resources for organisations and recipients have included Metrolink, local housing associations, and Greater Manchester faith leaders. Find out more at: www.recoveryacademy.gmmh.nhs.uk
Following the launch of the Recovery Academy's Autumn Prospectus on 1 October, you can find information on the face-to face courses available, which focus on supporting people with their recovery and promote good health and wellbeing.
New Recovery Academy digital resources this term which support good mental health:
- self-help resources: carers, PTSD, self-harm, suicide, sleep, personality disorders, hoarding disorder, worry, Long Covid, values.
- e-learning: Healthy Minds Greater Manchester.
- Media Hub – Children and Young people – Mental Wellbeing, Mental Wellbeing, Ikigai 3 (Start Small)
- e-magazine – Values edition.
New face-to-face courses which support good mental health:
- Connect 5 – sessions 1,2,3.
- Family Connections.
- Forensic Mental Health.
- Your Legal Rights under the Mental Health Act.
GMMH workforce and students on placement can access all the Recovery Academy resources and book onto courses via the Learning Hub .
Service users, carers, family, and friends, need to register as a Recovery Academy student first to access resources and courses. Find out more at: https://recoveryacademy.gmmh.nhs.uk/
Any questions? The Recovery Academy team can be contacted by email: recoveryacademy@gmmh.nhs.uk
Walk of Hope
Commencing on Suicide Prevention Day (10 September), teams around Greater Manchester planned a series of walks, under the banner of Walk of Hope, to raise awareness and start conversations on the topics of suicide prevention and mental health.
The month-long campaign concludes on 10 October, where a networking event and walks will be delivered from Bolton Lads and Girls Club around Queens Park. With staggered hourly walks taking place from 11am – 3pm.
There will be stalls and speakers sharing valuable information on suicide prevention and the help available to residents of Bolton and beyond.
To register for the walks or to book a stall for the networking event please contact Yusuf Atcha - yusuf.atcha@bolton.gov.uk
To celebrate your walk and to talk about this subject in general, the team will be using the hashtags #WalkOfHope #BoltonWalkOfHope and would love to see engagement and pictures from your walks.
Salford Living Well
Salford Living Well will be holding a morning event at Elms Bank, Half Edge Road, Eccles on Thursday 10 October for World Mental Health Day.
To meet this year's theme of mental health in the workplace, the team will be showcasing all the fantastic and innovative work they have done within Salford Living Well.
The event will run between 9.30am – 1pm, with a focus on how Living Well support the health and wellbeing of Community staff through a community network that was developed in 2020 and has gone from strength to strength, as well as how the service supports those receiving care in Living Well access employment or stay in employment, with staff members and service users sharing their experiences on the day.
There will also be a space to network with Salford Community organisations, as well as celebrate partnerships and successes.
Gorton Hub Drop-In
Come along to Gorton Hub between 10am - 2pm on Thursday 10 October where we will be sharing information, self help and local resources to support mental health.
This year’s theme is mental wellbeing in the workplace - in light of this important topic, we will have support from the Disability Employment Advisor to offer advice on managing your mental health in the workplace.
Self Help Resources
Explore a range of self help resources , including booklets, information sheets and worksheets on a variety of mental wellbeing topics.
These resources with enable you to learn more about mental health topics such as anxiety, resilience and wellness, apply techniques to manage your mental wellbeing and discover where to find support.
Good mental health for everyone
There are little things we can all do to look after our mental wellbeing and they can make a big difference; helping us to lead happier, healthier lives and cope with life’s challenges.
Here are 10 top tips, from one of our lead clinicians, for managing your mental wellbeing:
- Make sure you reflect on achievements or times when you have been proud of yourself. Keeping a record of this is always helpful as it’s good to read these when you are struggling and when you are feeling okay.
- Keeping track of negative moods and thoughts can also help you recognise there might be reasons or situations which act as a trigger. By identifying these, you can then get help and support with them.
- Spend time doing things you enjoy or are meaningful to you. From enjoying your favourite hobby, learning something new or simply taking time to relax, it’s important to do things that make you happy.
- Be present in the moment. By taking the time to be aware of ourselves and be in the present moment, noticing our own thoughts and feelings, and the world around us, we can gain a better perspective.
- Spending quality time with friends or family, talking to someone about how you are feeling or finding ways to help other people can all help stop you feeling lonely and improve your mental health and wellbeing. This can be online, by phone or seeing someone in person.
- Looking after ourselves physically can have a huge impact on our mental health. Good quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel, so it is important to have a good night-time routine. A balanced diet and maintaining any long-term conditions are also vital to our mental health.
- Be your own best friend. Imagine what you would say to a friend who was upset or struggling and show that same empathy and kindness to yourself. You are just as worthy of it.
- Get out into nature – there is research to show that being outdoors and getting some fresh air can have a positive effect on our emotional wellbeing.
- Find time for relaxation. Life can be busy and hectic, so find time each day, if only for five minutes, to switch off that phone, log off that computer and rest your active mind.
- Avoiding habits like smoking and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine can have a positive effect on our mood.
Join in the conversation!
X (formally Twitter): @GMMH_NHS
Facebook: @GMMentalHealth
Instagram: @gmmh_nhs
Or search the hashtags #WMHD2024 #WorldMentalHealthDay #WorldMentalHealthDay2024
