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Mental Health Awareness Week in Histon and Impington is a local initiative seeking to raise awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding poor mental health in all ages from toddlers to older residents.
It grew out of a conversation between Neil Davies and James Blandford-Baker in early spring 2015 when we both became aware of tragic and challenging stories affecting young people in our community. As for so many in our villages, these stories affected us personally but also challenged us in our care and concern for others. With the reduction in statutory support and treatment for people of all ages with mental health conditions, as well as the stigma that is still associated with them, the Histon & Impington Mental Health Forum came together to see what could be done at a local level.
We are immensely grateful to the professionals (from organisations such as Blue Smile, the local GP surgery, all our village schools, youth workers and churches), as well as others who share these concerns, who have contributed to thinking through how we can increase our understanding of mental health for everyone in our community.
H & I Mental Health Awareness Week starts on Saturday 16th April and runs through to Saturday 23rd April and the activities through the week will include:
- a fundraising concert on Saturday 16th April for village mental health projects
- in school activities and assemblies
- a parent drop-in to learn and talk about experiences
- a Blue Smile workshop for parents
- an exploration of the role of fitness in mental well-being
- a ‘dementia friends’ information evening
- the showing of the Disney film Inside Out, and Iris
The full week’s programme will be published in the 2nd week in March when the website www.himw.org.uk will be operational.
We are very conscious of how issues raised during the week will be addressed in the future.
We would be delighted if as many people as possible were able to find help or be pointed in the right direction through these activities. If you would like to help and/ or become involved please email neilsdavies12@gmail.com
Thank you to everyone who has supported this initiative so far!
hi my name is Laurence Hughes and i am the volunteer community reporter for Cambridge Housing Society based in Histon. i was wondering if i could attend some of the functions and do a piece to go in a later copy of the societies newsletter, with a view to giving some space for what you are doing. I have recently become a dementia friend through the association. my e mail is hugheslaurence@hotmail.com, and i look forward to your reply.