Successful Mental Wealth Festival to become annual event

The event, which raises awareness of the value of people with mental health problems and celebrates their achievements, will now become an annual event.

The festival took place over two days and was attended by representatives from local authorities, NHS organisations, members of the community and service users from across the country.

Delegates heard from a wide variety of speakers including former business secretary Sir Vince Cable MP. He spoke about the need to continually invest in mental health service.

Carol Harris, the Trust’s director of forensic and specialist services, and Sue Barton, deputy director of health intelligence innovation, explained about how the organisation is working proactively and progressively within South and West Yorkshire to help people live well within their communities.

Service users and peer support groups from Creative Minds ran two workshops each day. These explored poetry, creative writing and music.

Dave Watson, project development worker from Creative Minds, said: “We’re delighted at how successful the festival has been. It’s been so well attended that we feel confident to make it an annual gathering. Over the two days it was fantastic to be able to unite people from different backgrounds, share good practice and the celebrate work in communities across the country.”

Principal, Jill Westerman CBE “This was a fantastic, uplifting event that built upon our work of using adult education as a means of sustaining and improving mental health.  It also demonstrated the importance of our partnership with Creative Minds and SWYPT and I am eagerly looking forward to next year’s festival.”