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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By Diane (4)

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First Etchings And Scratching By Steve Bewick

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By Diane (3)

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Lady Bird By Myra Moncaster

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Warlock By Michael Keatings

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Lord Lady By Myra Moncaster

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Group Shot By Michael Keatings

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The Beginning By Michael Keatings

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Sunny Flower By Myra Moncaster

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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

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Warlock Close Up 6 By Michael Keatings

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Warlock Close Up By Michael Keatings

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Thoughtful Raven By Emma

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Mediterranean Sunrise By Steve Bewick

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Happy Lion In Chalk By Emma

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By Diane (2)

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Star Flowers By Myra Moncaster

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By Diane (5)

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

Mental Health Awareness Week – Day 3

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

Acts of Kindness

Doing something for someone else can help us to feel good too. Do a small act of kindness for someone else, every day, and you’ll feel even better than they do. What’s more, you’ll feel better straight away. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, you can get a lift in your mood by helping someone with their work, cooking a meal or spending time with someone who needs the company.

One of our Counsellors, Sam has shared some ideas she had for kindness acts:

• Make something that reminds or inspires you about someone. 
• Walk someone’s dog if they are unable to get out.
• Write someone a compliment.
• Do a bit of gardening for a neighbour. 
• Keep someone company. (while social distancing)
• Make someone a gift. 

There are lots more acts of kindness ideas on the below link to help with inspiration

Acts of Kindness

Giving through Fundraising

We’re always amazed by the kindness that is shown by our fundraisers and we appreciate every single one.

Our current fundraiser, Joe is just over half-way to running his total of 100 miles over May to raise money for Rochdale and District Mind. You can read more about his story and help him achieve his target here…

Joe’s 100 miles in May

Join in on the ‘Together in One Voice’

There’s a mass doorstep sing-a-long happening – and the whole of Greater Manchester is invited.

On Thursday 28th May, 7.30pm, Greater Manchester will fill the streets with music as local residents and famous faces come ‘Together in One Voice’ for a mass sing-a-long from their doorsteps and windows.

The event is being delivered by Social Enterprise and not-for-profits and will help profile the great work of the Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprose (VCSE) sector across Greater Manchester. This unique and ambitious event will be live-streamed for audiences as it happens and then shared with the nation in full on Sunday 31st May. 

The online rehearsals to learn the songs and harmonies started from Friday 15th May and you can nominate your street to be filmed too!

Read the MEN article about the event for more information:

MEN NEWSPAPER

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 20th May 2020

Mental Health Awareness Week – Day 2

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

Art for Wellbeing

Why not have a go at creating your own piece of art? You could pick a theme, draw your mood or just let yourself go and see what comes out! Art is a great way to express how you are feeling and improve your wellbeing.

Our Art Volunteer, Myra will be on our Social Café Zoom meeting this Friday 22nd May 2020 between 1 and 1:30pm talking about how art can help with wellbeing and giving our creative tips, everyone is welcome to join us! If you have created some art you could share this with the group!

Looking at other people’s creations in the Zoom Social Café where some people have been kind in sharing creations that they have produced during lock down inspired me to get creative again myself.  What better way to be kind to myself in concentrating on my creativity.

You can read more about our Social Cafés and how to join them here

More about our social cafes

Art Gallery

In the run-up to Mental Health Awareness Week our service users and local Rochdale residents have sent us their amazing pieces of art, each with a wonderfully unique style. We’ve loved watching these pop up in our inboxes! Take a look, you may feel inspired to create something yourself…

Click here to view the Gallery

Living alone, the days tend to merge together. Creating and painting take my mind to a happy place away from voices, worries and uncertain feelings.

Send us your Art!

If you’d like to share your artistic creations we’d love to see them, you can email them in to [email protected] or if you’re on social media you could post a photo of them and tag us in to make sure we see them. Please use #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and #KindnessMatters to help spread the importance of looking after your mental health.

I live in a busy household, working from home and homeschooling 2 children.  At the end of the day I take time for myself and colour.  It keeps me calm and re charges my batteries ready for the next day head.

Enjoying creating Art?

If you are enjoying creating art you can join our Art 4 Wellbeing Group that meets each week. We are not meeting face to face at the moment due to social distancing rules but our groups are still sending their pieces of art over on email. You can join by filling in our online self-referral form.

Author: Paula Hall
Posted on: 19th May 2020