TWO Thurrock Colleges mark World Mental Health Day with fundraising and wellbeing events
To mark the 25th Anniversary of World Mental Health Day (WMHD) on Tuesday 10 October 2017, Thurrock Adult Community College (TACC) held a number of wellbeing events including a very popular Tea and Talk event, where staff, learners and community partners (including Thurrock Mind), took part in conversations about mental health and wellbeing using resources from the Mental Health Foundation.
Organiser, Julia Wright, Curriculum Manager for Wellbeing at TACC thanked everyone who contributed to the successful day, including Thurrock’s Recovery College who delivered a Depression Awareness workshop, where one attendee commented “the workshop was very professional with practical advice and good trainers who were approachable and supportive. I really feel like there is support out there, whereas I just felt very isolated and alone before”.
Another learner said that it was time to “do something for herself” and swung into action, enrolling onto TACC’s Festive Floristry skills course!
With this year’s theme for WMHD being ‘Wellbeing in the Workplace’, staff and learners also attended Reflexology and Mindfulness sessions throughout the day. One staff member, Jo Smith, would recommend the Mindfulness to everyone as it “really does make you take a step back and look at your life from a different angle and gives practical exercises that can help with everyday stresses and strains of life – including better sleep patterns”.
Our Reflexology tutor was inundated with requests on the day for her popular treatments that aid relaxation and reduce stress. A total of £302.46 was raised for the Mental Health Foundation, including donations from the wellbeing sessions and TACC’s Principal, Jaki Bradley, has made a commitment to planning for more wellbeing sessions in future to promote good mental health in the workplace.
