THINK RIGHT!

“Wise up to Mental Wellbeing”

Hunts Mind is proud to announce the Think Right project which commenced in May 2011.

Comic Relief has awarded us funding for three years to provide the Think Right project which is a Mental Health Promotion and Campaigning project. The overall emphasis of the project is to combat the stigma linked to mental health challenges. All of us have physical health which at times can be challenged, for example by the common cold and flu virus. Equally we all have mental health or put in another way, our emotional health - how we feel about ourselves. It is fair to say that many of us will have periods of time when our mental health is good. There will also be other times in our lives when things can get to much which results in our mental health being challenged. With the right support it is very possible to overcome these challenges.

Jenny Swain is the Mental Health Promotion Co-ordinator who oversees the running of the project

Jay Penniall is the Mental Health Promotion Administrator working 16 hours a week

The overall objective of the project is to provide a range of mental health promotion and campaigning activities across Huntingdonshire. This includes the delivery of informal talks and more formal training to organisations, community groups and the general public. Talks and training focus on Mental Health Awareness which looks at the signs of symptoms of common mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety and how to support people, for example colleagues, family and friends. Talks and training can also focus on stress awareness. All talks and training are free of charge as a result of the funding we have received.

Below are some examples of the feedback that we have received when delivering training:

“Well put together, easy to understand / and relates to life in general”

“Very informative. Learnt all the different types of mental health challenges”

“That I was surprised how common mental health challenges are”

“I will improve my empathy and non-judgemental listening”

“I will think about how I talk to people if they come to me and tell me they are feeling low. Not to put words into people’s minds and not to judge, try to signpost them in the right direction”

The project also enables people with personal experience of mental health challenges to participate in initiatives to promote a better understanding of how people can be affected when their mental health is challenged. The involvement of people with personal experience is a fundamental aspect of the project.

In relation to enabling people with personal experience of mental health challenges to become involved in the project, below are some examples to date:

Involvement in the Steering Group to shape the direction of the project over the 3 year period
Co-delivering Mental Health Awareness sessions to organisations and community groups
Being involved in the planning of campaigns for example, Depression Awareness Week, World Mental Health Day, National Stress Awareness Day, Blue Monday
Ensuring that a range of community venues have information on the project available to all
Being involved in a ‘Human Library’ which is a concept where people are books which are then loaned out. This can be a direct way of challenging prejudice

Think Right Project's Top Tips:

Top Tips are designed to offer you practical tips and advice on how you can manage your mental well being, together with useful websites to provide you with further information and support. They include:

Coping with fear