The importance of relationships celebrated during Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental illness can affect anyone and at least one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Strong social networks improve our mental well-being, that’s why this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week (16-22 May) will focus on supportive relationships and how people in our lives contribute to our mental health.

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) and our partner organisations will be raising awareness of mental health and the importance of talking about mental well-being in a series of market stall events and coffee mornings around the county.

Professionals from the Trust, members of Managed Care Network and Shine will be out and about in various locations around Lincolnshire, offering information on how to stay mentally well and what support is available locally for people who need professional help. There will also be an opportunity to have a chat over tea and cake during events running in community centres and local libraries. People will be able to get together and build sustainable, meaningful connections that contribute to good mental health.

Dr John Brewin, LPFT Chief Executive said:

This Mental Health Awareness Week we are celebrating the connections, the relationships and the people in our lives that help us stay well. Supportive relationships, strong social networks of family, friends, neighbours and colleagues are as important to maintaining health as exercise and diet. From my experience as a psychiatrist I can see how support of family members and friends makes a difference to maintaining mental health and recovering from mental illness.

During the week we will be encouraging people to think about their own mental well-being in the way they would think about their physical health.

All events run by the Trust and our partners are free to attend and no booking is required.