MONDAY, 9 MAY, 2022

Immediate release

Connect with others this Mental Health Awareness Week

NHS Tayside is urging people to connect with others this Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 (9-15 May) to help ease the impact of loneliness.

The awareness week, which is hosted annually by the Mental Health Foundation, focuses on how loneliness affects us and how it can impact on mental health.

Public Health Consultant Dr Jane Bray said, “Loneliness is something we have all felt at times and this has been particularly difficult for many of us during the COVID pandemic. We know that loneliness can lead to mental and physical health problems but it is something that we can all help to change. 

“Please take time to connect with others, share a smile or conversation and improve your own and other people's wellbeing.”

During Mental Health Awareness Week, NHS Tayside will be running training sessions on mental health as part of their annual training programme for staff. A discussion event will also be held online on Wednesday, 11 May, to gather the views and experiences of people who work and volunteer in Tayside supporting mental health services.

Senior health promotion officer Dr Imran Arain, said, “This virtual event will be centred around sharing experiences to improve mental health services and supporting the mental health of communities and people in Tayside.”

The event will be open to the wider workforce, including public, private and third sector employees and volunteers in Tayside. For more information about the event or the training, please contact tay.publicmentalhealthtraining@nhs.scot

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw

People can visit NHS Tayside’s online self help mental health directory, which includes a list of mental health support and advice organisations and resources both in Tayside and nationally. The directory is available to view at www.livinglifewelltayside.scot.nhs.uk

If you need to speak to someone, you can contact:

• Samaritans: 116 123

• Breathing Space: 0800 83 85 87

• NHS 24: 111

Contact:

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 424138