January 2023 edition - Derbyshire Mental Health Network Newsletter

Time to Talk Day 2023 is on 2 February

Time to Talk Day is the nation’s biggest mental health conversation awareness event. Run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in England, it is held annually and this year it will take place on 2 February 2023. The day is all about creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends, or colleagues about mental health. One in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year and whilst talking about mental health isn’t always easy a conversation has the power to change lives.

If you would like more information and ideas on how you can take part visit the Time to Talk Day website which has lots of details to help get you started. This includes a free downloadable resource pack as well as tips for talking about mental health. The pack includes a host of materials to help start mental health conversations in your community, workplace or school. Resources include posters, postcards, social media tiles, conversation starters, bunting and much more. Whatever you choose to do, we hope you make space in your day for a conversation about mental health. We all have mental health, by talking about it we can support ourselves and others.

New ‘Let’s Chat Derbyshire’

campaign resource available

Building on its ongoing success, the ‘Let’s Chat Derbyshire campaign’ has added to its range of resources available free from Derbyshire County Council. The new resource is a smaller sign in size than the approx. previous A5 bench signs and could be suitable for example to affix on gate posts, entrances and similar. Any organisation or venue interested in receiving the new resource (as well as bench signs) can register interest by completing the form here. In a further development the Let’s Chat campaign now covers both Derbyshire County and Derby City as a result of Derbyshire County Council teaming up with Joined Up Care Derbyshire to rollout. The Council has no finite list of sign locations but are keen to encourage any area where there is footfall.

The campaign when originally launched last year involved the distribution of several hundred ‘Let’s Chat’ bench signs across the county, aimed at starting conversations about mental health, helping people connect and reducing isolation. You can find your nearest Let’s Chat bench by searching on the Google map here. An indoor version of the campaign was then developed by Derbyshire County Council and rolled-out which included window stickers and signs including for tables. The Let’s Chat’ signs have QR codes on them which take you to webpages with information about tackling isolation, loneliness, and mental health support.

SMILERS Ways to Wellbeing Campaign, including free new children’s climate change resources

Derbyshire County Council’s SMILERS campaign aims to help children remember the things they can do to look after their wellbeing. There are lots of SMILERS activities covering different topics. All of the SMILERS activities are free and can be found here on the Derby & Derbyshire Emotional Health & Wellbeing website. The SMILERS acronym stands for:

• Stay connected
• Move
• Interests
• Look
• Eat well
• Rest
• Support

This year’s Children’s Mental Health Week takes place between 6 and 12 February 2023. Relating to this we know that children hear lots about climate change that can make them feel lots of different emotions, including worrying. We also know that connecting together, connecting with nature and taking action is a great way to help make meaningful connections and changes that support our mental health and protect our planet.

Derbyshire County Council have created a new set of SMILERS activities with a climate change and sustainability focus which are free. If you are a school why not share these in an assembly, lesson or with your communities and families? Click here to access and download these powerpoint climate activity resources. Derbyshire County Council hope you enjoy having a go at these with your pupils and we would love to see what you get up to and hear your feedback. Please share your SMILERS actions with us on Twitter or on Facebook. 

Better Health Every Mind Matters - Loneliness campaign 2023

Feeling lonely is something that all of us can experience at any point and it can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. However, it’s important to remember that these feelings can pass and that there are lots of simple actions you can take to help lift yourself or others out of loneliness. 

Following the success of last year’s national campaign, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will be launching their 6 week Loneliness Campaign activity on 30 January as part of the Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign. In connection with this a range of free resources are now available to download from the Campaign Resource Centre on the Department of Health & Social Care website. You will need to sign in or register to access these resources. The free Loneliness campaign 2023 resources include a Campaign Communications Toolkit, Posters, Digital Screens, Social Media Toolkit, Static Images, Header, Radio Clip and Animations (with and without subtitles).

Anyone feeling lonely can search ‘Every Mind Matters’ for support and advice or go to the NHS Better Health every mind matters Loneliness webpage here.

Derbyshire mental health training – face-to-face and virtual delivery

The Derbyshire County Council Public Health mental health training offer includes both face-to-face and virtual (online interactive) delivery of courses. Details can be found on the Derbyshire County Council website - click here for the Mental health training webpage .

New course dates will be released via the above webpage and where referred to via Eventbrite. Places can often fill-up very quickly because of high demand, however the courses form part of rolling programmes with new dates being released and added throughout the year. Anyone interested in training is advised to revisit the webpage regularly. Please note we receive a large number of mental health training enquiries and shall reply to you as soon as we are able.

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