On the 19 June, there was a focus across all services and in Sunday Club on Mental Health Wellbeing at Holy Trinity Westbury on Trym.
A talk by Assistant Curate Cheryl Hawkins focused on the statistic that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health issue within a year and how as a congregation there was a need to get the conversation started in looking after our mental wellbeing, which goes beyond the “I am fine” conversations and the difference between mental wellbeing and a diagnosed mental illness.
Each member of the Congregation was given a booklet offering guidance on caring for our mental wellbeing.
In his Sunday email message to the Congregation and wider community, Incumbent Fr. Andre Hart stated:
"The Bible teaches very clearly that we are created by God as physical and spiritual creatures, both of these are equally important and bound together. If we neglect the one, we also neglect the other. We need to look after both, our bodies and our souls/minds - keeping them healthy as possible. The incorporation of trained Mental Health First Aiders strengthens our pastoral provision."
Revd. Cheryl Hawkins said,
“We are grateful that the Diocesan training has enabled us to train a second Mental Health First Aider in our Parish and we are seeing the benefit of mental health first aiders within the pastoral work we do. This Sunday was an important step for us as and we look forward to seeing where God leads us in the next steps of this work.”