Leisure centre staff in training to support our mental health

Article date: 7 May 2024

That's why this Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May) St Helens Borough Council's leisure and fitness services will be in training to support residents' mental health, aligning with the campaign week's theme of "Movement: Moving more for our mental health."

Different levels of activity are recommended for different ages, but the key message for all is 'spend less time being still and move more!' Suggestions on how to meet your daily recommended activity can be found at www.activesthelens.co.uk.

Councillor Anthony Burns, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Heritage, said: "Movement is important for our physical and mental health, but it can sometimes be tough to find that motivation to get active when we are struggling with our mental health, or simply when our busy lives get in the way.

"So this Mental Health Awareness Week we want to help people to find moments for movement in their daily routines and to know that their mental health is supported at our leisure and fitness centres if they choose to find those moments with us."

In time for the awareness week, St Helens Wellbeing Service will be delivering training to leisure and fitness service staff, at the end of which they'll qualify as Mental Health First Aiders and be able to support service users who may need some help.

Mental Health First Aiders are also trained within council services, helping colleagues experiencing mental health issues in the workplace.

And during the awareness week, the Wellbeing Service will be on site in leisure centres to engage with gym users and out in the community to increase access to their broad range of wellbeing services.

The team will be at:

• Newton-le-Willows Health & Fitness - Monday 13 May, 10am-2:30pm
• Queens Park Health & Fitness - Tuesday 14 May, 10am-2:30pm
• Nutgrove Allotment, Scholes Lane - Wednesday 10am-12pm

Cllr Burns continued: "Frontline staff like those in our leisure and fitness services are ideally placed to support us as residents with our mental health, as much as with our physical health. Mental Health First Aiders are available to listen, reassure and respond, even in a crisis.

"They're not therapists, but are a listening ear, trained to provide you with one-to-one support and intervention options if you need them, completely confidentially. They can just be there if you need a chat in confidence without judgement - even if it's just a social chat - and they're committed to removing the stigma of mental health issues."

Cllr Burns added: "In our Active Lives Strategy 2022-2027 we set out a goal to get 'more people, more active, more often' with our own Sports Development and leisure services and partners in the Active Lives Partnership committed to this goal. Mental health has to be a part of that, creating safe spaces for people to access support, more eyes in the community able to spot when someone is struggling and more ears to listen when we need to talk.

"We hope you'll join us this Mental Health Awareness Week in finding more moments for movement to improve your mental health."

Find a wide range of physical and mental wellbeing support services at www.sthelenswellbeing.org.uk and for sports and leisure activities visit www.activesthelens.co.uk.