This year Mental Health Awareness Week is from 15th to 21st May where the theme is anxiety, and inspiring people to get active through physical activity to combat the symptoms of anxiety. At least one in four Hertfordshire residents will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives – often not diagnosed or requiring specialist services.
The Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Team within Hertfordshire County Council Public Health facilitate and support good public mental health amongst adults across Hertfordshire through a variety of preventative projects including digital applications, training, activities, and partnership working. We aim to promote better mental health well-being and support those who may have common mental health issues. Please see below some of the ongoing work to support residents across Hertfordshire:
Promoting Mental Wellbeing Through Physical Activity Programme
For the past year, we have been funding 15 local charities and community groups to deliver physical activity sessions to improve the mental wellbeing of Hertfordshire residents with activities ranging from football and yoga to gardening and Nordic walking. The programme has delivered over 500 sessions and engaged more than 600 individuals – please visit https://vimeo.com/HCC_WFC_ManOn to see how one of our projects, Man On!, is improving mental wellbeing in Hertfordshire.
Togetherall
Togetherall is an online anonymous 24/7 peer-to-peer platform available to the residents of Hertfordshire aged 16+. Togetherall has a community full of people from all walks of life, coming together to get (or give) the mental health support they need. Any Hertfordshire resident join the Togetherall community today for FREE at [togetherall.com]togetherall.com.
Healthy Body Healthy Mind Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire’s Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) has teamed up with Public Health Hertfordshire to inspire people to get active this mental health awareness week (15-21 May).
The benefits of physical activity are significant, exercise is a great way to boost your mental and physical health, reduce stress and help with anxiety. The Healthy Body Healthy Mind Hertfordshire campaign challenges people to take part in a series of 12 exercise videos led by HFRS staff.
Follow the links below to complete the videos. The intensity of the workouts increases as the weeks go on, but just participate to your own level. We recommend 3 per week, however you can go at your own pace and repeat any of the videos as often as you like.
| Week 1 Workout 1 Workout 2 Workout 3 | Week 2 Workout 1 Workout 2 Workout 3 | Week 3 Workout 1 Workout 2 Workout 3 | Week 4 Workout 1 Workout 2 Workout 3 |
As part of the campaign, HFRS staff also share their own experiences of how they manage their mental wellbeing and the strategies they use to help them. Please visit www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/healthybodyhealthymind to hear their stories
Resource Booklet
Working with Districts and Boroughs, NHS, Adult Care, Children’s and voluntary agencies, the team have developed a mental health resource booklet providing information about services available in the community, making it easier for residents to access the support they need.
So whether they are looking for self-help resources to boost their mental health, need a listening ear or emotional support, or are in crisis and need urgent help, they can find people willing to assist.
Printed copies are now available for partner agencies and colleagues. These can be requested by emailing PublicMentalHealth@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Samaritans
Samaritans have a toolkit available, where you will find tips and tools to share with colleagues to help support them, as well as suggested content to help you support the week on social media. Please click here to access.
Better Health – Every Mind Matters
Better Health – Every Mind Matters is providing free resources for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week. There are a range of campaign materials sharing NHS tools and advice on how we can all use physical activity to help tackle anxiety and ‘Make the first move for your mental health’.
The resources are now live from with some already available to order and download on the Campaign Resource Centre including a comms toolkit and:
- Posters
- Conversation Starters (and dispensers)
- Social media assets
- Digital Screens