Free events to help Tameside residents with their mental health

Tameside Wellbeing Corner is to host a month of events to help local people look after their mental health and wellbeing.

The free events in Ashton Market Hall will be held between World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 and World Mental Health Day on October 10, and will be provided by a range of local and national organisations.

Cllr Eleanor Wills, Tameside Council’s executive lead for health and wellbeing said: “Because people’s mental health can be affected by a variety things including poor physical health, and housing and money issues and so on, we’ve organised a wide range of support for the month.

“So as well as mental health and wellbeing services being on hand, Citizens Advice will be visiting to discuss finance, benefits, housing, tax and so on. 

“Routes To Work will be there offering employment advice and support for people with mental health issues, sensory impairments, physical or learning disabilities and autism. There will be other organisations available to discuss parenting, caring, sleeping better, recovery from illness, arts and crafts, and ways into volunteering.

“And because being active can really help people feel better, a range of organisations from Active Tameside to Fit Over Fifty will be visiting to support people with being more active. Of course these are all services that people can tap into anytime, but the month of activity at Tameside Wellbeing Corner will provide extra opportunities for people to find out more.”

Cllr Wills concluded: “This month between World Suicide Prevention Day and World Mental Health Day is a good time to remind ourselves that ultimately every suicide is preventable, and one in four of us will experience significant mental health issues. 

“There are things all of us can do to support one another, and to find the right support if we need it.”

As well as the programme of events at Tameside Wellbeing Corner, the council continues to promote the Zero Suicide Alliance online training on suicide prevention – which teaches people how to recognise when someone might be feeling suicidal, and how to have a conversation with them – which anyone can access online free.

Anyone wanting someone to talk to can contact Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123, www.samaritans.org.

The full programme of events at Tameside Wellbeing Corner from September 9 until October 10 can be found at www.tameside.gov.uk/Newsroom.