Free event on improving mental health and wellbeing for residents on Friday 27 January

The free walk-in event (11.30am to 2.30pm) will feature representatives from local organisations sharing information about their services and interactive taster sessions focused on wellbeing.

Richmond Council, in partnership with Ruils and Richmond Borough Mind, is hosting its first-ever event focused on residents' mental health and wellbeing on Friday 27 January at Whitton Community Centre. This is happening in line with Great Mental Health Day, Thrive LDN's London-wide initiative that this year is themed around the power of community kindness.

On top of information from local services, attendees to the Great Mental Health Day event in Whitton can expect to access:

• Free basic health checks (which include blood pressure readings and a Diabetes Risk Assessment)
• A walk-in dance-out session with SoulHub
• Wellbeing sessions on investing in yourself with United Response
• A mindfulness session with Richmond Borough Mind
• Lunch catered by Surplus to Supper, who help to bridge the gap between food waste and food poverty locally

Cllr Piers Allen, Chair of the Adult Social Services, Health and Housing Services Committee and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said:

"Working with local services to support improved mental health and wellbeing for our residents is vital even at the best of times. This is especially true in the midst of collective challenges like the cost of living crisis and following what has been a period of increased isolation and stress as a result of COVID-19. We know that many people’s mental health and wellbeing will have been or still be impacted, even if they’ve never experienced mental health issues previously.

"It's extremely important that everyone knows local support is available for whatever it is they're going through, and how to access that support. We have all of this information available on our website, including on our Cost of Living Hub, but we also know how important it is that we work with local services to take this information directly to residents where they are, and this event is a starting point.

"Last autumn, we attended the South London Listens Accountability Assembly with local mental health and NHS professionals to discuss how we can continue to support the prevention of mental ill health in our borough. At this assembly, we pledged to work with local organisations like Ruils and the Richmond GP Alliance to continue combatting social isolation and loneliness through social prescribing, which supports residents to take control of their health and wellbeing by connecting them with local activities and support within their communities.”

Further information:

• Mental health support in Richmond 
• Social prescribing offer for residents
• Richmond Work Match