Kent County Council (KCC) Chairman Lesley Game today marked the end of Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 by urging anyone struggling with feeling lonely not to suffer in solitary silence and to seek support.
This year’s dedicated week to mental health which ended last night (Sunday, 15 May) focused on loneliness, raising awareness of how it can affect people and where help can be found.
To back the campaign, KCC highlighted the work of Live Well Kent and Kent Sheds.
Live Well Kent is a network of community mental health and wellbeing support services, managed by charities Porchlight and Shaw Trust for KCC and the Kent and Medway Clinical Commissioning Groups.
The Kent Sheds programme, a collaborative, innovative partnership, including KCC, was set up to combat loneliness, social isolation and mental health challenges.
You can read more about the fantastic work of these services, and other support networks such as Every Mind Matters and the online Mental Wellbeing Information Hub, here
Help is also just a text and phone call away, 24/7, from trained counsellors through the Release the Pressure helpline and text service in Kent and Medway. Text the word Kent to 85258 or call 0800 107 0160 for free confidential support – at any time.
KCC Chairman Lesley Game
Kent County Council Chairman Lesley Game said: “Loneliness takes many different forms and can affect all ages, not just the elderly. Some of us can feel alone despite being in a crowd; others are still coming to terms with the long periods of isolation they experienced during the pandemic.
“However it happens, whenever it happens, please remember there are lots of services across the county that want to help. Tackle loneliness head on by telling yourself you deserve to be supported, reach out and share how you feel.
“Looking after your physical fitness, contacting our Community Warden Service to help you stay connected with neighbours, or making time to re-start an old hobby you’d stopped pursuing, can also help you walk away from loneliness towards a brighter life.”
For exercise tips for a range of abilities visit: oneyoukent.org.uk and www.kent.gov.uk/getmoving
And for more about contacting Community Wardens visit: www.kent.gov.uk/leisure-and-community/community-safety/community-wardens#residents-communities
