Trust supporting launch of online mental health information

To mark this year’s World Mental Health Day the local NHS provider of mental health services is lending its support to Calderdale’s Mental Health Promotion Forum Steering Group as it launches an online information and advice resource.

The Calderdale health improvement service, which is provided by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, has written this special information, which will be hosted by the Healthy Minds website, designed to advise anybody who might be struggling with mental health problems.

World Mental Health Day is held each year on 10th October and is an opportunity to talk about mental health, challenge stigma and discrimination and raise awareness of mental health problems.

For people living in Calderdale the steering group has worked with partner organisations, including the Trust, to compile the information for the Healthy Minds website to promote a better understanding of mental health problems, and what you can do to support family, friends and colleagues who are experiencing them.

The main theme for the information is mental health and the recession, and aims to highlight how emotional wellbeing and mental health is affected during a recession and what can be done to reduce the negative impact.

The web information has been developed by Calderdale’s Mental Health Promotion Forum Steering Group which has representation from sectors working in the Calderdale area, including South West Yorkshire Foundation Trust, Calderdale Council, Voluntary Action Calderdale and Healthy Minds. The information will be hosted by the Healthy Minds website, which is a is a voluntary sector organisation that provides information and support about anything concerning wellbeing and mental health.

Speaking about the online resource Sarah Clarke, who is a mental health specialist in the health improvement team, said, "Being able to contribute to this website was a great opportunity and we hope it will offer information and support for people who might be struggling. It’s important to remember that 1 in 4 of us will be affected by mental health problems and no one is immune to this. Hopefully this information will direct people to the help available if they are finding times tough."

You can access the information online at www.healthymindscalderdale.co.uk

Find out more about South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the services it provides in Calderdale at www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk where you can also find a comprehensive range of information to help you manage your own wellbeing.