A free public Mental Health Wellbeing event is being staged in Torbay this month to provide information and raise awareness on mental health issues in the region, after local concerns were raised on the matter.

The Living Well event is at Paignton Library on Saturday 16 May 2015 between 10am and 3pm. The event, taking place during National Mental Health Awareness Week, invites you to “Make the connection between your physical and Mental Health.”

Raising awareness of how work stresses, anxiety, sleep deprivation, lack of social activities and exercise can impact on physical and mental health will be central to this event. You will be able to find out more about how to look out for someone at work or at home over a free cream tea.

Local independent health & social care consumer champion, Healthwatch Torbay, based at Paignton Library, are working alongside Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust (TSDHCT), South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), and Devon Partnership Trust (DPT) to stage the free public event, which will include:

• An opportunity for people to ask questions directly to mental health experts, including a GP, psychologist, pharmacist, psychiatrist, mental health nurses and Mindfulness practitioners.
• Advice and taster sessions including Bay walks, Tai Chi, Zumba, smoking cessation, eating well, interactive quizzes, volunteering and BMI checks.
• Rolling information talks on a variety of issues, including stress, anxiety, panic, low moods, OCD, phobia, medication advice and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
• Information stands from a variety of local services, including Healthwatch Torbay, Depression and Anxiety Service, Bipolar group, mental health employment support, post-traumatic stress, veterans services, Time for change, DPT pharmacist, , pre-birth & post-natal depression, drug and alcohol services.
• An opportunity to meet with those who commission and provide mental health services and discover how they are using public feedback to make changes to those services.
• A free cream tea from 11am (limited availability) for visitors, and more activities planned on the day.

Every year in May, the Mental Health Foundation raises awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues. This year’s National Mental Health Awareness Week theme is ‘Mindfulness’ and focuses on the ‘Five ways to wellbeing’ part of the National Foresight Campaign with evidence pointing to five steps that we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give. Wellbeing is generally understood to include feeling good and functioning well, with evidence also showing that good mental wellbeing is important for our physical health.

For more information on mental health issues please visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk. For more information on the ‘Living Well’ event at Paignton Library, call free on 08000 520 029 or visit www.healthwatchtorbay.org.uk.

Notes to editors

1. Healthwatch Torbay is the new independent consumer watchdog for Health and Social Care services in the Bay and will:
   • Monitor and influence local health and social care provision
   • Harness the expertise of local communities, charities and voluntary organisations
   • Encourage people to share their views with about the services they use
   • Give feedback to health and social care providers as well as to Healthwatch England
   • Signpost people to information about health and social care services in Torbay
   • Provide information about what to do and who to talk to if things go wrong
   • Above all ensure that the public's voice is heard - and responded to.
2. Our Mission Statement
   • Healthwatch Torbay will enable individuals and community groups to influence the planning and provision of all local health and social care services. 
   • Healthwatch Torbay pledges to support all members of the public - irrespective of age, nationality, ability, faith or belief - in order to promote better health and wellbeing for everyone.

For more information please contact Healthwatch Torbay Communications Officer Simon Culley via email at simon.culley@healthwatchtorbay.org.uk.