Supporting better mental health in Bury

Families are invited to a fun day at The Green in Clarence Park on Sunday (8 Oct, 11am to 2pm) to mark the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Dorothy Gunther, will lead a tree planting ceremony by young people from Streetwise at 1pm. There will also be a treasure hunt, a selfie board, Zumba, poetry readings, community bingo, sand art, and a Wheels for All adapted cycle session.

The event carries a serious message too, as one in four adults and one in ten children are likely to have a mental health problem in any given year.

This can have a profound impact on the lives of tens of millions of people in the UK, and can affect their ability to sustain relationships, work, or just get through the day. World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to make a difference locally by helping to raise awareness and encouraging people to talk. At Clarence Park, people will have a chance to make their own mental health pledge.

The theme of this year’s campaign is Mental Health in the Workplace.

Councillor Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “For too long, mental health has not had the same level of recognition or understanding that physical illness does, and yet so many people in their lives will experience a mental health condition.

“It’s vital that we do all we can to change attitudes, promote good mental health, and tackle discrimination and the stigma that still surrounds mental illness.”

The trees for Sunday’s planting ceremony have been kindly donated by Summerseat Garden Centre and Park Farm Shop and Tearooms in Ramsbottom.

For more details about Mental Health Awareness Week in Bury, go to the Bury Directory at https://www.theburydirectory.co.uk/kb5/bury/directory/service.page?id=CytdDM4bCDQ

ENDS

Press release issued: 4 October 2017.