Swindon launches new campaign to promote mental health and wellbeing

The Swindon Wellbeing campaign launch coincided with World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10 October.

It aims to get people talking and making an effort to understand mental health. 

Campaign coordinator Jol Rose said: “Wellbeing and looking after ourselves and each other has never been more important.

“Swindon Wellbeing aims to help people stay healthy - and to know that there is plenty of help available if needed. Sign-posting to local organisations who can help is a big part of what we are doing.”

Twenty local organisations have been joined by people with lived experience of mental health problems to launch Swindon Wellbeing. Supported by funding from Swindon Borough Council, the campaign team say they are dedicated to raising awareness of these important issues.

Swindon-based charity IPSUM is one of the organisations behind the project.

Julie Mattinson, IPSUM Director said: “There is still a lot of stigma around mental health problems - many people are worried about sharing their problems with others. 

“Our campaign wants to let people know that we all need help sometimes. Everyone can have problems, so it’s okay to ask for help. We’re lucky in Swindon to have so many great organisations - it’s just knowing how to find them.”

The campaign hopes to promote different aspects of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, a programme of five simple steps that can help people to improve their wellbeing and general health.

One of the campaign coordinators, Samuel Robbins said: "There are some really practical things we can all do to promote wellbeing.

“We want to start by talking about the first step - connect. Particularly after the experiences of the past eighteen months, connecting with friends, neighbours, families and communities has never been more important.”

The campaign is always looking for people to get involved - they can be contacted via their website www.swindon-wellbeing.org or Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.