Mental Health Awareness Week – starting Monday 10th May 2021

Mental Health Awareness Week – 10-16 May 2021

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and throughout the week we’ll be working our way through the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. Pop back to this page each day for a week full of wellbeing…

Monday – Connect

Join us for our Social cafe on Zoom 10.30-11am, all are welcome! This is a no-pressure drop in on Zoom where everyone from across our communities is welcome to come on for a chat. We talk about all sorts from what we’ve been watching on TV to craft projects! You can come on and listen to us or take part in the conversations, we’d love to see you there.

Meeting ID: 848 3983 3060  Password: Café

If you’ve not used Zoom before, please contact Alice and she can help get you set up on 07766 140 904.

I live by myself so this is a great way to break my day up and have a chat, good way to lift my mood

• – Social Cafe Member

Tuesday – Take notice

Sit down with a cup of tea and read through Myra’s Art blog, who is one of our volunteers… 

What first got me interested in art?

I was always colouring and drawing as a child, I was the youngest and my siblings were a bit older than myself. I guess I was a bit like an only child as I didn’t have to share my pencils, crayons and toys with anyone! My favourite medium to create with was plasticine, I loved Morph, the little clay man character from the Tony Hart shows on TV. If you’re a child of the Seventies, you will know what I am talking about! I really enjoyed my early years at school, we got the opportunity to make and create.

What has your relationship with art and mental health been?

Art has been crucial for me during difficult times, during mental ill health and subsequent recovery. I used to get frustrated if my creative impulses seemed to ‘fail’ and motivation was a struggle. Art isn’t automatic for me, it doesn’t always flow and cascade from our imagination like a waterfall, sometimes there is a drought and creativity dries up. During these times I look to other forms of inspiration, I enjoy reading, walking, and swimming. I have recently been enjoying YouTube videos, there is so much creativity, skill, and shared knowledge. Seeing other people sharing their artistic ability really appeals to me. Inspiration comes from many sources. 

Over the years I have experimented with several ways of creating. Craft can be rewarding, I have tried knitting (not very successful!) and making animals out of felt (slightly better than my knitting!)

When was this period in your life?

I left hospital in 2002, since then I have been in recovery. Early on, art was significant in getting me through difficult times. I found night time tricky, trying to sleep when my anxiety was in full flow was tough. I found that if I got out of bed, sat at my desk, and did some drawing for an hour or so I could relax. It was a peaceful time, I could concentrate and connect with a piece of work. For those few hours, I had the power and control that I believed was missing from other aspects of my life during that period.

Why are you still interested in art today?

During the times when I may not be producing art work, I like to observe, learn and listen. Other people and their work inspire me, their techniques, passion, and new ideas. I believe that art and creativity is for everyone. I don’t see myself as a lonely artist, locked away in a studio by myself. I prefer to exchange ideas and enjoy the company of other people, the collective element.

I spent years participating in various art and craft classes, I eventually enrolled onto a foundation course, then before I knew it I was applying for university! I was overjoyed to attend the University of Bolton, I made some great friends and learned much more about myself. I received my degree in Fine Art in 2013.

What do you do now?

During the pandemic, life has changed for all of us. Previous to lockdown I was facilitating the Art 4 Wellbeing sessions for Rochdale and District Mind at the Wellbeing Centre. I have been volunteering through out lockdown over zoom facilitating the art and social cafe group. I look forward to seeing you face to face in July when restrictions change.  

Wednesday – Give

Self-care is important, treat yourself to a 5-minute breathing exercise from our yoga teacher.

Thursday – Keep learning

Tempt your tastebuds with a Chicken Tikka Masala recipe video.

Friday – Be active

Complete the week by watching a video from our Growth Project.

A bit more about our Growth Allotment Project… 

Our award-winning Growth Project works in partnership with Hourglass to provide a safe and supportive haven at our allotment. The project aims to promote good mental and physical wellbeing through outdoor activity in a green environment.

On your first visit to the project, our Wellbeing Co-ordinator will meet you and spend some time during the day to find out the best ways in which we can support you personally. You will also be given a full induction by our on-site horticultural expert.

People who are engaged in the project will have a safe and supportive haven to come to, but most of all we have lots of fun while we work! For many people, their mental and physical health has improved and a number of these have returned to mainstream housing and regular employment.

If you are interested in getting involved please contact us on our Infoline on 01706 752 338, we can post out a referral form to you or complete it over the phone if that is easier for you. Alternatively, you can complete our referral form online here

Referral Form

Our allotments are based at the following location:
The Growth Project
Kellett Street
Rochdale
OL16 2JU

The project is open on Wednesday’s and Thursday’s from 10:00 until 16:00

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 5th May 2021

Rochdale AFC’s Charity Match day

Rochdale AFC’s Match day is dedicated to Rochdale and District Mind

Rochdale Football Club and Rochdale AFC Community Trust are joining forces with the Rochdale and District Mind to help raise awareness among fans about mental health and the support the charity provides.

Saturday 17th April’s League One fixture against Accrington Stanley at 12.30pm is Dale’s Mind match day!

The match day is as part of Mind’s charity partnership with the EFL, which has seen the charity work with all 72 EFL clubs, including Rochdale AFC, to help bring a lasting legacy around mental health in football.

Players will wear Mind branded t-shirts during the warm-up, while we’ll be sharing key information across our social media channels in the run up to the fixture.

Text to donate

To help raise funds to keep our vital services running we are asking people to text ‘RDMIND’ to 70580 to donate £3. Please feel free to text as many times as you like, your donation means a great deal to us! 

Win a signed Rochdale AFC Football Shirt

Rochdale AFC have kindly donated a signed football shirt to us, you can enter via a donation on our Just Giving page! Click below to enter for a chance to win this fantastic prize! The draw closes on Sunday 25th April 2021… Good Luck!

Mind’s own research shows that over half of people (56 per cent) feel that football fans find it easier to show their emotions at football matches than at any other time. Despite this Mind also knows that many fans, particularly men, are struggling in silence for fear of opening up about their mental health. This is likely to have been made all the worse by the impact of the pandemic. Mind’s most recent research found that more than half of adults and two-thirds of young people saying their mental health got worse during the first lockdown.

The charity hopes mental health-themed matchdays like this will begin to open up the conversation among football fans about their mental health, as well as raising awareness about the support Mind offers at this difficult time.

Mind’s national charity partnership with the EFL launched at the start of the 2018/19 season and has since been extended to run until the end of the 2021/22 season. Working with all 72 EFL clubs across the country it aims to:

• Raise awareness about mental health with fans, clubs and staff
• Raise funds to deliver life-changing support
• Help improve the approach to mental health in football working with other partners in the game.
   

Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said:

“Every year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem. That could be one person in every family, hundreds of football players and many thousands of football fans. We know that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on people’s mental health, not least fans, who have been missing the camaraderie and community spirit that comes with attending match days. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we remind fans of the support available to them on their doorstep and to let them know they don’t have to face mental health problems alone.

“We are proud to be working in partnership with all 72 clubs in the EFL, as part of our charity partnership with them, to be real game-changers in the way football tackles mental health. We hope that events like our matchday with Rochdale Football Club will reach out to fans and let them know that whoever you support, Mind supports you.”

For more information about Mind’s partnership with the EFL and wider work in football visit mind.org.uk/football.

GOALS – Football for Mental Health 

We’re also pleased to announce that Rochdale AFC Community Trust are launching ‘GOALS’, a new programme offering football for mental health sessions. The sessions are open to anyone who would like to benefit their mental wellbeing through socialising and engaging in physical activity. The sessions are free of charge and will take place on Tuesdays from 1.30pm–2.30pm on the Kick Pitch at the Crown Oil Arena, starting on Tuesday 20th April. If you’d like more information about this new session or would like to get involved, please contact Charlotte Griffiths, Dale’s Health and Inclusion Officer. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01706 643 836.

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 15th April 2021

World Mental Health Day 2020

10th October 2020 is World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day 2020 is the most important one yet. This year has been a tough one for us all. The months of lockdown and loss have had a huge impact on our mental health.

According to Mind’s research, with over 16,000 people, more than half of adults (60%) and over two-thirds of young people (68%) said their mental health become worse during the lockdown. We know that many have developed new mental health problems as a result of the pandemic and, for some of us, existing mental health problems have become worse.

Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but 10th October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.

This video from mind talks about what mental health problems are

Time table of events for Saturday 10th October

SAVE THE DATE!

This World Mental Health Day we are holding our events online. Our sessions are designed to help tackle the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health and emotional wellbeing, bringing people together to feel connected and discover the benefits of practising self-care.

Throughout the day we will be broadcasting wellbeing sessions over Zoom. We are welcoming everyone to the session and you do you not need to be a current service user to join in, please use the below Zoom codes or contact us for access details.

10am – 5 ways to wellbeing (Urdu)

Meeting ID: 916 1999 4247

Passcode: WMHD

11am- Relaxation Session

[email protected] 07766 140 904 to book a place

11am – Distanced Reiki Session

[email protected] 07766 140 904 to book a place

12pm – Crafty Minds (art group)

Meeting ID: 963 7272 2669

Passcode: WMHD

1pm – Zoom Social Café

Meeting ID: 980 9702 6520

Passcode: WMHD

2pm – Help to deal with negative thinking styles

Meeting ID: 964 6509 8392

Passcode: WMHD

Promises to #DoOneThing

Life right now is unsettling for many people. Maybe you have embraced this new way of living or you may be finding it very difficult. Whatever your current situation is, it’s important more now than ever to prioritise your mental health and wellbeing.

Rochdale and District Mind invite you to join together for World Mental Health Day 2020 by sharing a #DoOneThing Promise. Let’s take this time to remind ourselves to look after our wellbeing. We will be displaying the promises on our website, these will also be printed and displayed in the window at our Wellbeing Centre on Drake Street, Rochdale for passersby to read, be inspired and join in.

How to send your promise into us…

We’d love you to get involved, please email: [email protected], text or WhatsApp: 07766 140 904 and let us know what your promise is!

Take a look at our collection of promises

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 29th September 2020

Take part in our new Strategy survey

We’ve been defining our direction…

We’re reaching out to our stakeholders by sharing our new strategy and encouraging feedback to help us plan for a positive future and ensure we’re here for the long term.

Our new strategy defines our direction as an organisation for 2020-2023, we’ve looked at where we are now and where we want to be.

Take a look at our Strategy, Organisation and Services Plans by clicking on the below three boxes:

We’d like to hear from you…

Please take part in our short, 5 questioned survey to help us hear your feedback. We would appreciate your feedback by Tuesday 28th July. We’re interested to hear from people we have and haven’t yet worked with.

Take Part in the survey

UPDATE: We’d like to thank everyone who took part in our survey, we appreciate your feedback. The survey is now closed.

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 17th July 2020

Art & Creative Writing are now on Zoom

Each Monday ‘Craft Minds’ will be taking over our Social Cafes!

Our Art and Creative Writing Groups are now meeting every Monday at 1 pm on Zoom for half an hour. The group is facilitated by Myra (our art volunteer) and Alice our Wellbeing Coordinator is also online in the group to offer support. 

We will be watching YouTube clips featuring exciting arts from a variety of artists.

There’ll be an opportunity to share your drawings, paintings, sculptures and creative writing that you may have done while you have been at home.

This group is informal, therefore no art lessons but we hope you will like to share hints, tips and hacks to help each other feel inspired!

There is no pressure to share your work, feel free to join us if you would just like to watch and listen. You can join on mute or without video if you wish.

We want art to be fun for all, and your input and ideas for the weekly sessions will be encouraged and included.

There’s no limit for attendance and we always welcome new members so please come and join us!

Take a look at the Art Gallery

We create a gallery each month of the wonderful creations that are sent into us from residents and group members, take a look here:

Art 4 Wellbeing Gallery May

Art 4 Wellbeing Gallery June

More about our Social Cafes

Each weekday we run a Social Cafe over Zoom. They are a great way to connect with others for a friendly chat. If you’d like to know more please click below

We look forward to connecting in our Social Cafe!

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 13th July 2020

Art 4 Wellbeing Gallery June

Take a look at the fantastic work produced at home throughout June

Although our groups cannot meet face to face at the moment our service users and local Rochdale residents have been creating some wonderful artwork at home.

If you would like to join our Art 4 Wellbeing Group please get in touch, we welcome newcomers to the group. Please call our Info Line on 01706 752 338 or email [email protected]

Click on the below images to see the art in more detail.

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Wings Of Lockdown By Emma

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Group Close Up By Michael Keatings

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By Diane (3)

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By Diane (5)

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Lady Bird By Myra Moncaster

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Star Flowers By Myra Moncaster

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Warlock By Michael Keatings

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Thoughtful Raven By Emma

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Group Shot By Michael Keatings

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By Diane

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Happy Lion In Chalk By Emma

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First Etchings And Scratching By Steve Bewick

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By Diane (2)

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By Diane (4)

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Warlock Close Up By Michael Keatings

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Lord Lady By Myra Moncaster

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Warlock Close Up 6 By Michael Keatings

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The Beginning By Michael Keatings

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Mediterranean Sunrise By Steve Bewick

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Sunny Flower By Myra Moncaster

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 13th July 2020

Mental Health Awareness Week – Weekend

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is Kindness. Kindness and our mental health are deeply connected and kindness can be an antidote to isolation and create a sense of belonging. We’re sharing Kindness sessions and stories each day this week. Here’s our session for over the weekend for you to enjoy because #KindnesssMatters.

Baking for Wellbeing

Baking is good for your mental health, studies show how baking can have huge benefits for our mental health leaving you feeling calmer and happier afterwards, and some people even reported having more energy.

This article from Happiful Magazine talks about the benefits of baking for your mental health.

Happiful Magazine – Baking is good for you 

Be Kind to Yourself Chocolate Cake

One of our Wellbeing Coordinators, Alison has created an indulgent chocolate cake recipe and for Mental Health Awareness Week she has called it her “be kind to yourself” chocolate cake.

She’s created two videos – mixing the cake mix and then decorating and the end result looks beautiful!

Mixing the Cake

Decorating the Cake

Have you been baking?

If you’ve been baking during lockdown we’d love to see photos of your baking creations! You can email us at [email protected] or if you’re on social media please post your photo and tag us in!

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 22nd May 2020

Mental Health Awareness Week – Kindness Collection

Kindness Collection

Throughout Mental Health Awareness Week we’ve been reading so many stories of kindness within our communities. We’ve been touched by the messages that have been shared by colleagues, services users and friends about acts of kindness or tips on self-care. We’ve created a collection of the stories which we hope you enjoy reading through… 

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 22nd May 2020

Mental Health Awareness Week – Day 5

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is Kindness. Kindness and our mental health are deeply connected and kindness can be an antidote to isolation and create a sense of belonging. We’re sharing Kindness sessions and stories each day this week. Be sure to pop back every day to enjoy another session of self-care because #KindnesssMatters

Take some time out for yourself today and relax, it’s important to look after yourself especially during these difficult times.

Our Yoga Teacher, Sarah has shared a 5-minute breathing exercise which will help you feel grounded and relaxed. 

Enjoy a relaxation session

Our partnership agency Recovery Republic (where Rochdale and Disitrict Mind offer one to one appointments and wellbeing sessions for residents of Heywood) have kindly shared their relaxation sessions from Julie Kelly.

If you experience mental health difficulties and would like to know more about what services Recovery Republic offer contact Alice Astley 07766140904.

Do you enjoy yoga and relaxation?

Due to the lockdown rules, our yoga and relaxation classes cannot meet face to face at the moment. If you have enjoyed the above videos and would like to join the classes once they are back up and running please complete our online referral form and one of our Wellbeing Coordinators will be in touch.

In the meantime, you can also look on Julie Kelly’s YouTube page for some more relaxation videos.

Self Referral

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 22nd May 2020

Mental Health Awareness Week – Day 4

The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is Kindness. Kindness and our mental health are deeply connected and kindness can be an antidote to isolation and create a sense of belonging. We’re sharing Kindness sessions and stories each day this week. Be sure to pop back every day to enjoy another session of self-care because #KindnesssMatters

Writing for wellbeing

Journalling is a great way to express how you are feeling and process your emotions. There are lots of other ways you can use words to express yourself too. Take a look at the below ideas, which one might you try today?

Create a Happiness Jar

When feeling down it can be easy to forget the good and better times. Times when you’ve succeeded in something; happy times spent with others; things that make you smile; things you’ve done to help

someone else. So remember them.

Each day, spend some time writing them down. Remember the things you have enjoyed; the things that felt like a job well done; the things that helped you feel close to someone else. After a few days, you’ll have a list of things that you can look back on.

Remember, what we think about affects how we feel. Focus on the good things and feel happier for it.

You could collect all of these and keep them in your own happiness jar to open up every now and again and help you feel good.

Writing Stories and Poems

Writing is a great way to express how you are feeling and improve your wellbeing. We have been sent some great pieces of writing that are truly inspirational, please click on the image to read their words.

Writing Music

Jake talks about his life through his music. Life’s turbulences including his experiences of mental health. Jake describes how hard it is to talk about his thoughts and feelings instead he expresses himself through his music.

Interesting fact… the voice in ‘anxiety’ that says “you ok daddy” is actually his son. Jake has adapted and shared the following 3 tracks with Rochdale & District Mind for World Mental Health Week. Thank you Jake!

You can listen to more of Jake Ellis on his soundcloud (Warning Explicit Lyrics) 

Jake’s soundcloud

Writing Riddles

Our Wellbeing Coordinator, Shagufta runs the Women’s Wellbeing Support group. They are unable to meet face to face at the moment so they have created a Whatsapp group to stay connected. Shagufta has shared the riddles they have been posting!

1. What has to be broken before you can use it?

2. What has a head and a tail but no body?

3. What goes up but never comes down?

4. What can you break even if you never pick it up or touch it?

5. What has 88 keys but can’t open a single door?

Scroll down for the answers…

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1. Answer: Egg

2. Answer: Coin

3. Answer: Your Age

4. Answer: A promise

5. Answer: A Piano

How did you get on? Maybe you could have a go at writing some riddles yourself?

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 21st May 2020