Events to highlight support available over mental health

A Recovery Week is to go ahead in Perth and Kinross for the first time next month.

Organised by mental health charity Lighthouse for Perth, and the Alcohol and Drug Partnership, it is the first of its kind in the area.

The week is to begin on September 28 with events aimed at tackling the stigma surrounding mental health discourse.

Sharon Thomas, manager at Lighthouse for Perth, says the week will show local people what support exists in Perthshire.

She said: “Recovery week will allow us to highlight the services and help which is available and provide the resources and signposts so that people are aware how to access these.

“It also gives people the chance to take a step back and realise what they have managed to achieve in such trying times.

“Recovery is something that should always be highlighted and it lets others see that this is possible.”

She added: “Now more than ever mental health is so important and so many are struggling. The fallout from Covid-19 will be with us for many years to come and we need to be proactive in our planning and response.”

In previous years, an annual recovery walk took place across Scotland to raise further awareness of the numerous forms of mental health concerns. However, this year’s walk was cancelled.

It was due to this cancellation that the idea for a Recovery Week came about.

Ms Thomas said: “The idea came about after we realised that the National Recovery Walk was being cancelled this year, so we decided that it was important that the year did not pass without marking recovery and wellbeing in Perth and Kinross.

“It is important that with all that has happened so far in this year that we do not just cancel the year.”

The week will include a day of reflection and tributes, a drop-in day at The Neuk – a multiorganisational centre – to promote recovery and wellbeing.

It will also include a recovery walk and a session on the stigma surrounding mental health and language.

Further details will be shared nearer the event.