Week offers the recipe for good mental health
AWEEK of activities to promote good mental health is taking place in Rochdale and has included the opening of a cafe dedicated to improving emotional wellbeing.
The activities have been organised by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust from Monday to Friday in support of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.
Among them was the opening of a cafe by #Thrive, a mental health service for youngsters, at Drake Street on Tuesday.
It will be a hub for #Thrive’s services and have expert staff available to give support and advice.
Doctor Henry Ticehurst, medical director at Pennine Care, which provides Rochdale’s mental health services, said: “As a provider of mental health services, Pennine Care has a part to play in starting conversations about good mental health.
“It is our job to support patients and the wider public.
“It’s really important to get people thinking more about what we can all do to improve our mental health.
“That’s why Mental Health Awareness Week is such a good initiative.
“The theme this year shifts the focus away from mental ill-health to explore how we can thrive in life with good mental health and we’d encourage every- one to spend some time this week thinking about how you can look after your mental health.”
Opening hours for the cafe are Monday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm and Friday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
Further activities taking place this week will include Facebook Live chats on Pennine Care’s Facebook page.
Among these will be two teenagers, who have successfully used mental health services, answering questions on Thursday at 4pm.
The following day at 12.30pm staff from Pennine Care will take to Facebook Live to answer questions and give advice.
As part of Pennine Care’s work it has asked people with mental health issues to describe the difference between ‘surviving or thriving.’
Among the answers was: “I’m surviving when my head is a fog and I can’t focus on anything but my anxiety.
“I’m thriving when I can think rationally, focus on my work and enjoy time with my loved ones.”
For more information and events visit www.penninecare.nhs.uk/surviveorthrive.