A special event highlighting the wide range of mental health and well-being support available in Plymouth is taking place in Devonport in October.
The event at Devonport Guildhall on October 9 features organisations and individuals who can offer peer supper, mental health information and education, wellbeing through creativity and crisis support.
Titled Mental Health Connections: Learning from Each Other and Finding What Fits the free event will include a series of workshops including Sound Therapy with Anam Cara; Soul Singers; Mindful Art Club; Mindfulness with Carenest and The Voice of Lived Experience.
The event, which runs from 11am to 4pm has been organised by Plymouth Recovery & Empowerment Group, (Plymouth REG), Real Ideas Organisation, Hope in the Heart CIC and Marbles Lost and Found.
Nicky Nurrish, founder of the website www. marbleslostandfound.co.uk, has been working closely with Plymouth REG, a group of mental health professionals and people with lived experience of mental health difficulties.
Nicky, who struggled with a Bipolar diagnosis, set up the website to provide a one-stop place with information and advice on mental health issues and to signpost people to organisations which can help.
Nicky said:
“Since the website went live it has been embraced by professionals, other organisations, the mental health community in Plymouth and beyond and as far as Australia and the United States!
“It is used widely across Livewell Southwest, on their website, used by local GPs, Police, schools, and grass roots communities.”
Nicky now runs a support group at the Moments Cafe in Plymouth City Centre where nearly 30 people regularly attend! She also does talks, runs stalls and works closely with other mental health organisations such as Devon Mind and Improving lives and it has grown into a Community Interest Company (CIC).
She added:
“Marbles Lost and Found is all about working together and finding what fits the individual to help them on their mental health journey! It is about embracing your mental health, being you. Standing proud, breaking down the stigma and raising awareness.
“Creating and running Marbles Lost and Found and working with other mental health organisations, groups and communities has changed my own mental health for the better – because I am not doing it alone.
“There is a large community of support out there for anyone struggling – you just sometimes need a helping hand to find it.”
