In support of World Mental Health day 2022, NHS Lanarkshire’s Health Improvement team held ‘Mind Your Head – Walk & Talk’ on Monday 10 October, for people to join a walk to support their mental health.
There are many physical, mental and social health benefits to walking and being out in nature, and this event allowed those who attended to explore these benefits in support of World Mental Health Day.
The walk was open to all Lanarkshire residents to come along, connect with others, socialise and link to local services which support mental health and emotional wellbeing.
An amazing 35 Lanarkshire residents attended the walk, which started from Summerlee Heritage Park, along the plug in Coatbridge and Westpark, then turning back to Summerlee.
The day provided an opportunity for supporting partners to set up stalls in the café, allowing those in attendance to mingle and find out more information on World Mental Health day and the local support available to them to access. Organisations who came along to support the residents and signpost them to additional support included; Bazooka Arts, Social Security Scotland, Get Walking Lanarkshire, Tackling Poverty Team (North Lanarkshire Council) and Well Informed SAMH. The event was also greatly supported by Community Learning Development (North Lanarkshire Council) and also First Steps (NHSL) who were present on the day and also during the planning stage.
Grant Murdoch, health improvement practitioner, NHS Lanarkshire, and organiser of ‘Mind Your Head’, said: “I was thrilled with the success of this event. We were able to complete our walk in the sunshine and everyone who attended was in good spirits.
“The highlight for me was seeing so many people talking with people they had never met before and also having conversations about different topics. The attendees engaged with the organisations who came along to hold an information stall and the feedback from them was that they gained a lot of useful information all in one place.”
Gillian McLaughlin, information officer at SAMH – Well Informed, commented: “It was lovely to talk with people and offer information and support on mental health and wellbeing resources available from both SAMH and other local organisations.”
Michelle Watson, health improvement practitioner, NHS Lanarkshire, added: “It was great to see people of all ages and backgrounds get involved and even dogs too! There was also a variety of really useful information from various organisations who also took part in the walk and were around for a wee chat afterwards. It was a lovely wee morning and everyone really seemed to enjoy it.”
