Groups set out stalls to help mental health

ONE in six adults are affected by mental health issues, but there is a wide range of third sector services and organisations offering help and support.

As part of National Mental Health Awareness Week, Rossendale Connected and Rossendale Leisure Trust organised The Big Mental Health Connect and invited a range of providers to put up stalls inside The Ashcroft in Whitworth

Dr Emma Gladwinfield was one of several speakers. She said: “One in six adults is affected by mental health and, although medication can help people with mental health problems, the causes can be very complicated and patients need time.”

She said, where appropriate, GP practices socially prescribe patients to the many different communitybased organisations that can offer support and help.

At the event 14 of the many third sector organisations were represented including Stubbylee Community Greenhouses, Beacon Dementia, Carers Link Lancashire, Rossendale Men’s Shed, Veterans In Communities and Civic Pride Rossendale.

Each offers different support to combat loneliness, help with social isolation while also providing practical activities and assistance to support people with mental health issues.

After the speeches, which were also delivered by social prescribers and mental health practitioners, attendees were involved round table discussions when they discussed different patient scenarios.

They debated what voluntary organisations the person could be referred to so that a safety net could be created to support them. They also discussed whether the person had acute mental health problems which needed stepping up with statutory authorities.

Rossendale Council Lead Member for Communities, Health and Wellbeing Councillor Barbara Ashworth said: “It was absolutely brilliant and really well organised. All the stalls were really good and there was a range of groups from the Greenhouses to Beacon Dementia and also Lancashire County Council’s Children and Family Wellbeing Services, so we also had the children and young person’s perspective.

“Everybody learnt something and came across someone they had never heard of before; they kept us on our toes.

“We wrote down on the tablecloth what help we thought the person in the scenario could be directed to and all that information is going to be collated. People always think they need to talk to a GP if they have a mental health issue, but surgeries also have mental health practitioners whom it may be easier to get an appointment with. It was very enlightening.”

Rossendale Connected can be contacted on 01706 256532.