Conister Bank supports Isle Listen’s school activities during Mental Health Awareness Week

Conister Bank supports Isle Listen’s school activities during Mental Health Awareness Week

Isle Listen announces plans, with the support of Conister Bank, for Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) which runs from 9th to 15th May.

Conister Bank are proud to be involved with Isle Listen and their work in schools, encouraging our Island’s young people to use their creativity and explore important Mental Health themes. We were keen to support Isle Listen’s vital early intervention work, giving younger children new ways for them to familiarise themselves with common feelings and emotions, which is key in developing emotionally healthy young adults.

MHAW is an annual event founded by the Mental Health Foundation, and held during May, as a way of highlighting the importance of mental health and helping to remove the stigma that still surrounds it. The week has become one of the biggest awareness weeks across the UK and globally. This year the theme is loneliness, as it’s something that has affected more and more of us since the start of the pandemic; and our connection to other people as well as our community has never been more important. As one of the Island’s leading mental health charitable organisations, Isle Listen wants to ensure mental health receives the attention it deserves.

The work Isle Listen does to provide education, prevention and early intervention aims to alleviate pressure on the statutory health services and to avoid the unnecessary escalation of mental health problems which can make recovery more difficult the longer they are undiagnosed.

Andrea Chambers, Isle Listen Chief Executive added, “Mental Health Awareness Week highlights to all those in our community who might be struggling with their mental health, that they are not alone, that support is available, and they will be understood if they reach out. However, to make a real and lasting difference, we need to ensure these principles are embedded within society all year round, and that occasions such as Mental Health Awareness Week are used to help remove the stigma.

“We could not continue to do what we do without the amazing support of our Island community, and I’m delighted that so many local organisations want to show their support of our work and the importance of mental health. There are so many ways people can help remove the stigma and I hope as many people as possible will want to get involved. You can find out how on our website islelisten.im/mhaw”.