SOUTHAMPTON residents are invited to a free celebration in the city on Saturday, October 16 to help highlight, foster and enhance their ‘Health, Well-th and Happiness’ (2021).
The afternoon event at the Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel in the High Street is being coordinated by Southampton Mental Health Network and is open to everyone.
Ling Salter, who runs Compassionate Cuppa CIC and is a member of the Network, explains: “’Mental health is everyone’s business and we’re hoping people of all walks of life, ages, ethnic backgrounds and genders come along to celebrate positive mental wellbeing. The event is all about highlighting the need to take care of your emotional, as well as your physical, fitness. We’re working towards making Southampton a ‘Mental Health Friendly City’ and this event is part of the process.”
The Health, Well-th and Happiness in Southampton event, which is being led by Southampton Mental Health Network member organisation, Creative Options, includes speakers, stalls, refreshments and emotional support from Compassionate Cuppa.
Among those attending is keynote speaker Sarah Haskett from Creative Mental Health and stallholders from various charities and organisations including Parent Support Link, Options Wellbeing Trust, SoLinked and Touch Network.
Abi Mason, Southampton Mental Health Network’s Administrator, explains: “This event is for everyone – those who feel they have robust mental health, those who feel fragile and everyone in between. Having good mental health is just as important as having good physical health. They go hand-in-hand.
“Our brains are no different from any other organ or part of our body, and while we all expect to have some physical health issues in our lifetime, one in four of us are likely to have a mental health issue too. And nearly all of us are going to face something within this area related to a loved one.
“We don’t know at what point in our lives, young or old, when we may need help. Our event is designed to encourage and value everyone’s mental health.
“The recent pandemic has highlighted issues related to mental wellbeing and resilience in the face of potential health and financial worries, as well as more deep-seated poverty, loneliness and isolation.
“One of the issues we wish to raise awareness of through our event is the use of the term ‘mental health’ to describe mental ill health, as there is a clear distinction between someone who has issues with mental ill health and someone who wishes to maintain and foster good mental health.”
Southampton Mental Health Network became publicly active in 2019 and the current 150 plus members comprise of representatives from around 80 organisations.
These include the NHS, health professionals, city council departments, and other statutory service providers, through to small community groups, individuals with lived experiences, carers, and the wider public, including businesses.
The initiative is being led and coordinated by Communicare in Southampton, a good neighbours’ charity that operates across the city helping eradicate isolation and loneliness.
Supported by the Southampton City Council and Clinical Commissioning Group’s Integrated Commissioning Unit (ICU), Southampton Mental Health Network aims to bring individuals of all ages together, as well as communities, professionals, service providers, businesses and other organisations.
Southampton Mental Health Network also hopes to boost resilience and to create a movement based on improving attitudes, understanding and education with regards to mental health in the city.
“Collectively the members of Southampton Mental Health Network are all working closely together, sharing accurate information, ideas and resources and looking at ways of influencing outcomes, opinions, actions, attitudes, understanding and the words we use.
“We also want to find out what gaps there are in services, where there might be overlaps, the places in the city where people feel welcome and safe and identify why these places make them feel like this, so more may be created.”
The Health, Well-th and Happiness in Southampton event will be held at the Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel on Saturday, October 16 from 1pm until 5pm.
To find out more about the afternoon or to join Southampton Mental Health Network and for further information, please visit https://communicareinsouthampton.org.uk/mental-health-network/ or call 023 8250 0050. Membership is free and open to any individual or organisation wishing to become involved.
