In a pioneering initiative to make mental health support more accessible, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s Recovery College has announced the expansion of their livestreamed mental health and wellbeing courses.
This innovative extension is a collaboration with Suffolk libraries, following a successful pilot at Ipswich Library late last year.
The Recovery College, a vital resource offering free educational workshops and courses, serves individuals aged 16 and over across Norfolk and Suffolk. The courses are meticulously designed to empower participants on their mental health journey, encouraging them to take charge of their wellbeing and become experts in their own recovery.
Some of the topics covered in the courses include:
- Overcoming shame
- Understanding autism
- Understanding and managing ADHD
Dan Brown, the Partnerships Development Lead at Recovery College, highlighted the positive feedback from the initial sessions, commenting:
“The aim of these webinars is to empower people to take control of their own lives and become experts in their own recovery. Inviting people to come along and experience the webinars together in a library gives them a chance to meet other people and discuss the themes covered if they wish.”
The next series of webinars will commence on 30 January and run until early March. To ensure a supportive environment, library staff will be available to assist participants. This extension aims to bridge the gap for individuals who may find it challenging to access traditional in-person support, thereby fostering a more inclusive approach to mental health and wellbeing.
By offering these courses within local libraries, the initiative underscores the importance of community-centric solutions to mental health challenges. It also highlights the role of libraries as not just repositories of knowledge but as active agents of community wellbeing and support.
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