Mental Health Awareness Week is here

Get involved by getting back to nature…

Getting outside in the fresh air has been a lifeline for many during the past year of lockdowns.

And with the arrival of Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs until Sunday 16 May, the theme of this year’s awareness week is nature – thinking about how to connect with it and getting people talking about what it means to them.

Get involved here at the CCG by popping up one of the Teams backgrounds we have created to help encourage a discussion during meetings – there are a number to choose from:

• West Essex CCG – how can you make someone smile today
• West Essex CCG – what are you grateful for today?
• West Essex CCG – say one positive thing to somebody today
• Mental Health Foundation – blue
• Mental Health Foundation – pink

We have also set up an interactive message board in the Teams Staff Room channel.

Share your thoughts and suggestions relating to maintaining good mental health, either by expressing gratitude, pointing out something that makes you happy or how nature has made a difference for you.

Once you have logged in to Microsoft Teams, access the notice board by clicking on the Teams icon on the left-hand menu and going to the Staff Room under ‘West Essex CCG’.

The Urgent Care team has encouraged people to take a nature photo and share the story of it with colleagues as well as taking a picture of part of an outside object for others to guess.

If you are in need of support at any time, do get in touch with one of our Mental Health First Aiders for a kind and sympathetic ear.

Our Health and wellbeing support page on AskHUE can signpost a number of support services.

Visit the Mental Health Foundation website for further information and join in on social media using #ConnectWithNature and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek to share your nature images.