Mental Health Awareness and Green Health Week at King George V Community Garden Launch is an example of mental health and wellbeing, which is a priority for Wishaw.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing sub group members have agreed to support 3 national campaigns annually to raise awareness of mental health supports available to people in Wishaw. 

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week and Green Health Week were a perfect opportunity to launch the King George V Community Garden at University Hospital Wishaw in partnership with Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI).  An outdoor event was organised to showcase the garden and local supports and activities available including Therapets.  LAMH, SAMH, Social Track, Health Improvement and CCI provided opportunities to take part in activities to support good mental and physical health, including mindfulness, cycling, walking, planting, and a silent disco, as well as on opportunity to have a cuppa and a chat. NHS Lanarkshire Quit Your Way Team were also on hand to promote the service and support individuals to cut down or quit smoking.

Local people, hospital visitors and patients, local school children from St Thomas’ Primary School and St Aiden’s High School, and CCI volunteers all joined in with the activities on the day.

This has led to the sub group supporting schools to take part in activities with CCI to further enhance the garden, including the design of a smoke-free mural.

Social Track have been supported with a successful bid to the Community Solutions Improving Lives Local Activity Fund to host a weekly mountain bike meet up focusing on combating loneliness, and improving mental and physical health.