Meet your local mental health services

Find out about local mental health services and specific mental health issues at an event on 28th July 2010, in the Forum, Norwich from 9.30am – 4pm.

This fun, interactive event will offer something for people of all ages. A range of stands and representatives from the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust’s services will be present to answer your questions and provide you with useful information to take away.

Representatives will be giving out Time to Change campaign packs for people to take to their hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons to display to raise awareness of mental health and end the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with mental illness.

Aidan Thomas, Chief Executive of Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said:

‘The Trust runs these events to give the local community a chance to meet our health professionals and understand how our services care for people.

‘It’s also an important opportunity to make people aware that many among us are living with mental illness and that the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental health can isolate them and make their experience worse.

‘Everybody is entitled to good mental health and wellbeing, and as a community we must work together to achieve this and support those with mental illness to improve their quality of life.’

Time to Change and local project Stuff Stigma invite you to join celebrities like Ruby Wax, Frank Bruno and Gok Wan in helping to end mental health prejudice. Nearly 5000 people across England have already pledged to do their bit to help end mental health prejudice at www.time-to-change.org.uk. Show support for Time to Change and someone you know with a mentalhealth problem by adding your pledge and photo on the spot to a giant mosaic pledge board or make a video pledge at the Forum on 28 July.

From 12.30-3.30pm there will be an interactive art area run by the Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services as part of their stand, where children can paint, draw and play with different art materials under the supervision and creative encouragement of a qualified art psychotherapist.

There will be an opportunity to meet the Trust’s governors and visit a special recruitment stand to find out about current job vacancies. The Trust’s patient advice and liaison service will also be present throughout the day.

A series of mental health seminars will run in The Cube upstairs in the Forum at the following times on July 28. These free seminars will each last from 45-60 minutes and there is no need to book to attend:

– 10am Treating alcohol problems
– 11.30am Depression
– 1pm Dementia
– 2pm Dementia Care Mapping as a technique to help people with Dementia
– 3.30pm Helping children with post-abuse trauma

For further information please contact [email protected] or call 01603 421494

NCN-GKB Express Courier Service, Norwich