This week (15 - 21 May) is Mental Health Awareness Week which is run by the Mental Health Foundation.
This year’s theme is anxiety – one of the most common mental health issues people experience - and Suffolk Libraries is reminding people how its services can help.
Suffolk Libraries is the only library service in the UK with a dedicated mental health and wellbeing team and the library service offers a huge range of services, activities and support which can all help people with their anxiety and mental health.
Many of Suffolk Libraries’ activities bring people together for vital social interaction and can offer an opportunity for people to talk about their problems.
For example, libraries host regular Open Space sessions and Men Can Talk groups where people can benefit from a relaxed and welcoming environment to talk about anything they wish.
Our Me, Myself and Baby service also provides support for new or expecting parents via Stay and Play groups in libraries, and the new Menopause & Me project is providing much needed support for people experiencing the menopause or perimenopause. There is even an ongoing programme of free fitness Jumpstart activities which have been proven to improve people’s mood and wellbeing.
Library staff are also used to dealing with people who may be experiencing anxiety or concerns and are able to signpost them to other organisations who can help. Helping someone with anxiety can come in the form of helping someone to get online for the first time so they can apply for a job or for benefits.
Our libraries hold self-help wellbeing books to help manage a wide range of conditions. From anxiety to depression, to sleep problems and binge-eating, our specially selected books can help support positive health and mental wellbeing.
Last year, we invited our customers to share their story on how the library has helped them overcome challenges. Here’s what our customers said:
“The library has become my safe space and the amazing selection of self-help books has allowed me to learn to manage my conditions.”
“The library has given me the opportunity to reach out to others and improve my mental health massively.”
“These [Jumpstart] sessions made me feel less isolated, helped me to connect to a community and supported me through a time of great stress and anxiety.”
Jane Cox, Suffolk Libraries Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager, said:
“One of the key messages for Mental Health Awareness Week is that you’re not alone. Anxiety is incredibly common but there are many organisations out there who can help. Sometimes it’s just about knowing there is someone you can talk or. We want to do our bit by raising awareness of the issue and what Suffolk Libraries can do to help.”
One of the main issues which has been causing stress and anxiety is the increasing cost of living over the past year. A study last year by the Mental Health Foundation looked at the stress, anxiety and hopelessness people feel over their personal finances. The study found that a quarter of adults felt so anxious it stopped them doing things they want to do some of all of the time.
Suffolk Libraries’ recent Be Kind in Kind campaign has sought to highlight the many ways the library service can ease the pressure on people’s pockets – and the resulting worry this creates.
A visit to the library provides free books, free Wi-Fi and computer access and the many free library activities can provide a lifeline for parents looking for something fun and affordable for their children to enjoy.
The Mental Health Foundation website has plenty of information and tips on how to cope with feelings of anxiety.
If your feelings of anxiety are not going away, are having a negative impact on your life, or often prevent you from doing things you need or want to do, seek support. Speak to your GP or healthcare professional about the support available in your area, or contact a helpline service.
