Positivity, serenity and mental wellbeing was the focus all across the country on World Mental Health Day.
To celebrate, YMCAs across the country encouraged staff, volunteers and young people to take an hour for themselves to improve their mental wellbeing. The WHOLE HOUR initiative champions the importance of self-care and taking time to look after your mental health.
Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of YMCA England & Wales, said: “People’s lives are extremely busy and for many of us we simply don’t know how to slow down or stop. We all have mental health and it’s important that we take a break and give our mind a chance to recoup by practising self-care.”
YMCA England & Wales staff participated in various activities, including an hour long yoga session, scenic walks down to the Thames, board games and some even got lost in a good book.
YMCA Trinity Group was thrilled to use the day as a platform to announce the launch of its new, innovative mobile app Feel Stress Free for schools, which monitors and supports users’ mental health. Following a successful pilot with a select number of schools, Feel Stress Free takes a creative and enjoyable approach, using games and activities to assess users’ mental wellbeing on a daily basis – not just those who have already been identified as being in need of support. It analyses the results and suggests activities clinically proven to improve mental health resilience.
YMCA North Staffordshire’s YMCA GO! team hosted a wide variety of activities including a Food for Thought and Positive Words session.