Former Saints stars are among the many people helping to raise the message of being kind to yourself for Mental Health Awareness Week.
Saints greats, led by Tommy Frodsham, have filmed messages backing St Helens Council’s Ok2Ask suicide prevention campaign giving people tips and advice on how best to look after your mental wellbeing.
For football fans Andy Cole joins Sunday Times best-selling author and GP, Dr Rangan Chatterjee on a podcast as part of Kind to Your Mind, a campaign developed by the NHS and local councils in Cheshire and Merseyside, for the week.
And St Helens Council’s Youth Services are reaching out to young people across the borough by launching a new Instagram account aiming to help support their mental wellbeing in the digital age.
Councillor Anthony Burns, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure and Libraries, said: “We are all facing challenging circumstances at the minute which is why we have such a diverse range of support and advice available. There are so many issues that are affecting different groups in different ways which is why we have everything from support for young people, fantastic advice from Saints stalwarts to our new campaign aimed at supporting those affected by domestic abuse.”
Meanwhile and as part of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week St Helens Council is encouraging people to support those dealing with domestic abuse to get mental health help if they need it.
Many of the people who are victims or their friends and family supporting them through dealing with the trauma of domestic abuse will also find their mental health suffers.
As part of that message a new ribbon will be launched incorporating the colours of green for mental health awareness and purple for domestic abuse support to remind people of the impact both issues have on people affected by domestic abuse.
The Steve Prescott Bridge and St Helens Town Hall will also be lit up green and purple as part of the campaign during the week.
Councillor Jeanie Bell, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “We cannot underestimate the significant impact on mental wellbeing that someone affected by domestic abuse can go through. This is why we want to make sure that anyone in need of help knows they are supported by launching this drive as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.”
Councillor Burns added: “Each message is vitally important and we want to make sure that people are not left without help and know that help is there for you no matter what. The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is kindness and we all should be kind to ourselves and if you feel something isn’t right please talk to someone. There is a huge amount of support out there – take a look at www.oktoaskcampaign.co.uk where you can find a link to add the new ribbon to your Facebook page or visit www.kindtoyourmind.org to find out more. You can also follow St Helens Council on social media to see the Saints videos.”
