Mental Health Awareness Week 2013 runs from 13-19 May and the theme for this year’s campaign is physical activity and exercise, highlighting the impact they have on mental health and wellbeing.
Physical activity is regularly described as something we ‘ought to do’ to avoid developing health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, but it is also important to recognise the huge potential it has to enhance happiness and quality of life, as well as reducing mental illness.
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week aims to shift people’s motivation for physical activity to something they choose to do to increase their wellbeing.
Across the country there are a number of fantastic events taking place to support Mental Health Awareness Week 2013, and anybody who is hosting an event or planning to raise awareness can get in touch with the Mental Health Foundation to inform them of your plans.
Commenting ahead of the week, it said that the success of Mental Health Awareness Week is down to the generous and enthusiastic support that it gets from organisations and individuals who publicise the week, organise activities and events, and hopefully have some fun as well.
It has also provided the following tips to let people know what they can do next:
- Download ‘Let’s Get Physical’, a free booklet about the benefits of physical activity for your mental health.
- Show your support for the campaign by adding the Mental Health Awareness Week cover photo to your Facebook profile.
- Support them on Twitter by adding its Twibbon to your profile picture.
- Download the ‘Let’s Get Physical’ posters in grey or pink.
- If you’d like to help raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity for mental wellbeing, please consider making a donation to the Mental Health Foundation.
- If you need some guidance on how to take part, download the Mental Health Awareness Week Activity Kit (PDF) for free.
