This year's awareness week focuses on the theme of "Stress: Are we coping?", and the HeadStart team have developed activities designed to help young people in Wolverhampton cope with a range of stress related issues, including exam stress and the pressures of social media, and to help parents better support their children to cope with stress.
The week of activities begins with the opening of a pop up shop on the first floor of the Mander Centre, between New Look and The Works, on Saturday 12 May.
The shop is open to all and is offering a range of activities will help support emotional mental health and wellbeing throughout the day, including arts and crafts, Lego workshops and a chance to explore the new HeadStart support portal. Visitors will also be able to pick up free goodie bags with art activity packs and additional resources to help young people cope with stress.
Throughout the rest of the week, HeadStart's commissioned providers will be continuing their weekly timetable of activities to support young people, parents and families living in each of HeadStart's four target areas.
The WV10 Consortium, part of Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board, are holding a range of activities in Low Hill, The Scotlands & Bushbury South, including digital workshops, karate and cooking workshops. In Bilston East, Gazebo Theatre is hosting the "Place to be Me" club for young people, with dance, drama and musical activities.
Meanwhile, in Springfield, Heath Town, Old Heath and Eastfield; and in All Saints, Blakenhall, Parkfields, Ettingshall, YMCA Black Country is offering activities including zumba and yoga, 'Relax and Craft' arts and crafts sessions, and cookery workshops.
Andrew Wolverson, the City of Wolverhampton Council's HeadStart Strategic Lead, said "We are delighted to support Mental Health Awareness Week again this year, and have a week of fantastic activities to support young people and encourage everyone to take care of their mental health and wellbeing.
"Stress is something which can affect anyone and everyone, and young people are no exception. We hope this week will help young people to cope better with stress, particularly exam stress and the pressures of social media."
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 14 to 20 May and is organised by the Mental Health Foundation. For more information, please visit Type=links;Linkid=4556;Title=Mental Health Foundation;Target=_blank;.
HeadStart Wolverhampton, funded by Big Lottery Fund, is designed to improve the emotional mental health and wellbeing of children and young people aged 10 to 16 by giving them the skills they need to cope with the challenges of modern life.
As well as running a series of specific programmes in its four key target areas, HeadStart Wolverhampton offers city-wide help through a Type=links;Linkid=9943;Title=Support and Guidance Directory;Target=_blank; which provides emotional mental health and wellbeing resources from different organisations, including information targeted at young people, parents and carers, and professionals.
To find out more about HeadStart, please visit Type=links;Linkid=6584;Title=HeadStart;Target=_blank;, follow @headstartfm on Twitter or Instagram, or find HeadStart on Type=links;Linkid=7788;Title=Facebook;Target=_blank;.
- released: Tuesday 1 May, 2018