COUNTY health chiefs tackled ‘Blue Monday’ by turning parts of Worcestershire yellow to share happiness and positivity.
Teams across Worcestershire Health and Care NHS trust, which is the main provider of community nursing, therapy and mental health services in the county, held a variety of colourful activities last Monday, January 8 which has been branded the most depressing day of the year.
The trust encouraged its staff to get involved in events across the county, with some baking yellow cakes for their patients and running activities based on improving mental wellbeing
Yellow balloons were placed outside some of the trust’s hospitals and other public areas with displayed with quotes of happiness attached.
The spontaneous act sought to brighten people’s days, and encouraged members of the public who have seen the balloons to share their experience on Twitter, using the social media hashtag #YellowMonday.
Fern Berry, marketing and communications officer, said: “January can be a difficult time for many people; especially those experiencing financial hardship, or poor mental or physical health.
“With approximately one in four people experiencing mental health difficulties each year, we wanted to do something for our patients, staff and the wider public to celebrate positivity and retract from the negativity many people associate with Blue Monday.”
The trust runs the Worcestershire Wellbeing Hub in partnership with Community First, which provides information and signposting for people over the age of 16 who are experiencing low level common mental health problems, such as anxiety, stress, low mood, worry or depression, which cause some disruption to everyday life.
The hub aims to provide people with a range of courses and groups available across the county run by local non-NHS community providers, for example voluntary organisations or charities.
Visit www.hacw.nhs.uk/our- services and click on healthy minds for more information
