MENTAL HEALTH FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES
What is Mental Health Friendly Communities?
Mental health friendly communities is a project to support the challenges and issues around mental health and community work in our local area. How do community groups welcome people with mental health challenges and neurodiversity? How can inclusiveness help improve volunteer recruitment and retention for community groups? How can volunteers support their own mental health and resilience?
The project is run by Recovery Partners and the Growing Community Toolkit Project, run Gardening in Action, with funding from Sussex Community Development Association.
Workshop Highlights
Recent workshops under the Mental Health Friendly Communities Project brought together volunteers, facilitators and people with experience of severe mental illness. These sessions helped groups learn how to be more inclusive and supportive.
Topics included:
- How nature can support mental health.
- Understanding severe mental illness (SMI).
- Peer support and practical tips for welcoming everyone.
- How trauma affects people and creating safe spaces.
- Understanding autism and neurodiversity
Attendees shared ideas, swapped stories, and enjoyed a friendly chat over food. Many said they now feel more confident about supporting others and making their projects more inclusive.
Looking Ahead
Recovery Partners is working to develop more resources for community groups to create welcoming communities for everyone. Please sign up to the mailing list to get updates or contact us if you have any questions.