South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 05/10/2016

To celebrate this year’s World Mental Health Day (Monday 10 October) we are working alongside the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) to hold an event celebrating positive mental health and wellbeing.

The ‘Great Minds’ event will take place at the Kingswood Civic Centre in South Gloucestershire on Monday 10 October, from 1pm to 4pm, and will be hosted by the South Gloucestershire Mental Health Service User and Carer Engagement Forum. There’s no need to book in advance and the event is free to attend.

The focus of the event will be the new South Gloucestershire Wellbeing College, a unique community-based mental health support service that has been set up through a partnership by Merlin, Second Step and AWP. South Gloucestershire’s Wellbeing College is one of the first facilities of its kind and aims to support over 770 people in its first year.

People attending the event will be able to try out free ‘taster sessions’ of the Wellbeing College’s courses and browse an array of relevant stalls and information stands. Taster sessions include:
•    Wellbeing – learn about the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ and how to use these to improve your emotional health (1.30pm to 2.30pm)
•    Mindfulness – learn some basic mindfulness techniques (1.30pm to 2.30pm)
•    Assertiveness – develop your assertiveness and communication skills (3pm to 4pm)
•    Peer support – learn about the power of ‘lived experience’ of mental health problems in giving and receiving support (3pm to 4pm).

Chair of South Gloucestershire Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee Cllr Toby Savage said: “Mental health is a priority for South Gloucestershire Council and we are pleased to be working alongside AWP to hold our Great Minds event on World Mental Health Day. Residents are invited to come along to the event to try out a taster session for one of the college’s courses and discover some of the simple activities that can help improve wellbeing. There’s no need to book in advance and it’s completely free to come along and take part.”

Anyone interested in attending that has transport difficulties are encouraged to email cchengagement@southglos.gov.uk or telephone 01454 862356 giving their contact details and location in South Gloucestershire, and we will endeavour to assist you to and from the event.