Bromley Council is joining other boroughs in participating in London’s first ‘Great Mental Health Day’, taking place today.

This provides an excellent opportunity for everyone to talk about wellbeing and provides an introduction to Bromley’s own mental health awareness month starting next week.

Both the day and the month-long local campaign aim to increase awareness of the wide range of mental health support available for all ages, Everyone deserves to live a full and creative life, and looking after mental health enables people to better deal with life's inevitable challenges.

Councillor Diane Smith, Executive Member for Adult Care and Health said: “The aim of the day is to get us all talking about mental health, destigmatise these conversations and give people more confidence to ask for help and make residents aware of the support that is available right here in Bromley. This special day provides a fitting introduction to the work we will be doing over the coming month to help Bromley residents know how to take action early on and how to get support. It also complements our recently launched strategy to tackle loneliness which can affect the mental health of people of all ages and from all walks of life at some point in their lives.”

Residents are invited to take a look at the online resources on the council’s website and pass on information to those they think may benefit but who may not be online.

Councillor Aisha Cuthbert, Loneliness Champion for Bromley Council said: “Loneliness is something that can affect many different people over time and especially during the pandemic and the cold winter months when we spend more time indoors.  It can influence people’s mental health and wellbeing. We launched our new tackling loneliness strategy just before Christmas to urge everyone to keep an eye out for those who may benefit from a friendly phone call, for instance, or being linked up with a local group.”

Covid-19 has impacted in many ways, and for some, it has challenged mental health as well as physical health. If you are concerned about your own, or someone else's mental wellbeing, support is available. If you are unsure about how best to help others, or to protect your own mental health please contact the specialist mental health services. Further mental health and emotional wellbeing information can be found at www.bromley.gov.uk/health

In an emergency, where there is an immediate threat to life, please call 999.

The Mental Health Crisis Line can be contacted on 0800 330 8590. This is a 24-hour telephone service for those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis.

 

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Published: 28th January 2022