News
Mental Health News Round-up, Summer 2023
MVA offers a collection of recent articles related to Mental Health.World Suicide Prevention Day
10th September 2023 marks World Suicide Prevention Day and is an opportunity to raise awareness of suicide and of the steps that can be taken, not only to prevent it but also help reduce the stigma surrounding it.
Each week, over 110 people die by suicide in the UK, where research has found that as many as 1 in 10 suicides each year could be work-related.
Through education and intervention suicide can be preventable - One way that workplaces can do this is to embed suicide awareness, prevention, and support into their mental health and wellbeing strategy.
Designed to help people in the workplace become more suicide aware, national organisation Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) have produced a poster with advice on how to support someone experiencing suicide thoughts or behaviour.
MHFA have also partnered with the R;pple Suicide Prevention Charity to help keep people safe online.
Intended to save lives from suicide, the R;pple digital tool can provide hope and encouragement to people at their most vulnerable point by intercepting thousands of harmful online searches, and is FREE to organisations and individuals alike.
Suicide Prevention VCSE Grant Fund from UK Government
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has recently launched a Suicide Prevention VCSE Grant Fund to support suicide prevention activities delivered in England by non-profit organisations.
Intended for 2023 to 2025 period, the fund organisers advise applications must be made online through their Find a Grant portal (unless exceptional circumstances apply.)
The deadline for grant applications is 11:55pm on 1st October 2023.
For further application help, DHSC will also be holding Meet the Funder webinars for potential applicants to answer any questions, and ask that interested parties should register by email at SuicidePreventionGrant@dhsc.gov.uk.
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on 10th October, and this year’s theme is Mental health is a universal human right.
The day is a good opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions.
As reported recently, this opportunity can promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.
Community and society can ultimately drive positive transformation in workplace mental health and performance through bringing together diversity and inclusion with health and wellbeing.
By advocating for and promoting an open mental health culture - especially in the workplace - everyone can be better off when workers can bring their whole selves to work.
The My Whole Self resources from Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) are designed to help organisations to empower employees to bring their whole self to work.
Let’s talk About Mental Health from MVA
MVA continues their series of workshops aimed at developing skills and confidence within communities to talk about mental health and wellbeing and to be more able to support each other in seeking help.
More information about upcoming workshops is available from Clare Saunders and Satinder Shokar, MVA’s workshop organisers, by calling 01634 812850, or by email at info@mva.org.uk.
Celebrating and Saluting Sisters, and Honouring Matriarchs - UK Black History Month
October 2023 marks UK Black History Month, and the theme for this year is ‘Celebrating our Sisters, Saluting our Sisters, and Honouring Matriarchs of Movements.’
Black History Month is an opportunity for individuals and institutions alike to make sure that we understand the past to help provide a more inclusive and diverse future.
Whilst UK Black History Month is a time for communities to celebrate diversity, culture, joy, and brilliance in the Black community, it should also be remembered as a time to continue campaigning for change, and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) will be providing coverage of information in the coming weeks.
Do you have feelings or worries affecting your relationships, your work or day-to-day life?
You’re not alone, because many people in the UK experience mental health issues each year.
The Live Well Service offers FREE mental health support for people aged 17 and above in Kent and Medway: Whatever it is, they are there to help you.
If you need support or would like to refer someone to this service, you can call their referral line on 0800 567 7699, you can also email Live Well at ‘info@livewellkent.org.uk’, or you can contact their services directly.
Medway Council also provides wide-ranging help and direction to offer support for those with mental health concerns.
You can also call the Samaritans, free, 24/7 on 116 123
MVA continues its efforts to provide coverage of local and national news and events from the Voluntary and Charity Sector.
If you would like to see coverage of specific news or subject to help your charity, your project, your community group or enterprise, you can get in touch by email at info@mva.org.uk, you can also contact MVA via the website.