College holds fair for World Mental Health Day
Walsall College’s Student Union team supported World Mental Health Day on Wednesday 10th October by hosting a Mental Health Awareness Fair.
The event took place at the college’s Wisemore campus, offering a wide range of activities and information to help students take care of their mental health.
Attended by hundreds of students, the fair had a number of stalls where local organisations and charities spoke to students about their services.
Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust provided information about the psychological benefits of talking therapies, and Newbridge House held sessions on the importance of positive body image.
JMACs was also present to talk about their meditation and counselling services, and retail therapy was on offer when Lisa Goldby Jewellery sold an array of beautiful accessories, bags and trinkets.
Healthwatch Walsall brought in a giant wall, on which students stuck post-it notes stating what they felt causes poor mental health and what is needed to improve it.
Other organisations were at the event, including One You Walsall and Tesco, with the latter offering free blood pressure checks to visitors.
The College’s Learning Resource Centre promoted mental health resources available from the college, as well as novels that challenge the stigma around the subject. Tutors from the Sports department had their own gazeebo, and encouraged students to sign up to free activities, such as yoga and football.
Visitors also had the opportunity to try out a number of stress-relieving activities courtesy of the College’s Student Union, including colouring sessions, arts and crafts and making their own stress boxes.
Helen Griffiths, Student Engagement Officer at Walsall College, said, “The Mental Health Awareness Fair was a huge success. We had over 300 students attend, and we received a lot of positive feedback, with many students describing the event as ‘fun’ and ‘insightful’.
Mental health problems range from the worries most people experience as part of everyday life to serious long-term conditions. It is important for us as a college to ensure that all of our students know which services they can use to access help, as well as what they can do to manage stress.
The Student Union also offer volunteering opportunities to help students connect with their community and make meaningful connections, which has a positive impact on wellbeing.”
Walsall College offers a wide range of apprenticeships and courses for school leavers, adults and those looking to progress onto university. For more information about enrolling on a course at Walsall College, please call 01922 657000.
Or come along to our Open Day on Thursday 22nd November, between 4pm – 8pm. Pre-register now!
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