World Mental Health Day takes place every year on the 10th of October was observed for the first time on this date in 1992. For 2022, the World Federation for Mental Health set the theme as ‘Make mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’, and in our local area the Mary Frances Trust certainly tried to get that message out there with their range of events and activities for the day.
The Mary Frances Trust was established in 1994 in Leatherhead, Surrey by two women with the aim of providing more care and resources for those locally struggling with mental health issues. This October, the Trust played a big part in gathering people together and providing spaces for individuals to commemorate the day and spread awareness on the importance of mental health at a local level. They did so with coffee mornings and ‘wellbeing walks’ hosted in Leatherhead and Elmbridge, as well as running an online meditation, online at home craft session and an Open Afternoon at the Brickfield Centre Garden.
When speaking with Connie Ridout, the charity’s Communication’s Lead, she emphasised that it can be extremely difficult for someone who is struggling to find the courage to ask for the help that they need. She explained that, because of this, the Trust finds that “it’s really important we proactively encourage people to seek that help and to not be scared, as well as to explain how we can help”. For Mental Health Day the charity ran the same events that they do year-round but placed special emphasis on encouraging those who aren’t necessarily their clients, but may be considering joining, to come along and see what the Trust has to offer them. Many of their events, such as their ‘Open Afternoon’ at the Brickfield Centre, were really well attended and showcased the support that they can offer. Videos and blogs posted on their Instagram (@maryfrancestrust) also showed viewers how the Trust supports their clients and discussed ‘10 ways you can make your mental health a priority’.
Whilst the Mary Frances Trust certainly did a lot for the 10th October, they work tirelessly year-round to provide mental health support and spread mental health awareness. Every day from 6pm – 11pm they run a Safe Haven in Epsom, which provides out of hours help to those in Mental Health crisis. Ms Ridout also shared that they are “quite big on campaigning and awareness” and that they are proud to be a part of the campaign ‘End Stigma Surrey’. Each of the Mary Frances Trust’s activities are free to partake in, and they try to promote peer-to-peer support especially. Their arts and crafts classes are part of the activities that Ms Ridout said are “designed to help with your mental health” and “join together like-minded people who can understand where each other are coming from”. Shown are some of the artwork clients created, inspired by the artist Raku Inoue’s Insects series.
In the coming months the Mary Frances Trust has lots to look out for; whilst the movement of growing moustaches for ‘Movember’ is to raise awareness for all men’s health issues, the Trust are putting special emphasis on men’s mental health issues. They’re relaunching their campaign of ‘Men’s Wellbeing Matters’, sharing portraits of men and blog posts about men’s struggles with mental health. Ms Ridout also stressed that with the difficulties of the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’, not only are their financial struggles, but mental and emotional ones as well and, with that, the Trust hopes to support and advise people through this difficult time.
If anyone wishes to seek help, or even donate, please visit the Mary Frances Trust’s website (https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk)
