North Tyneside World Mental Health Day 2021 - Altering Images of Mentality

Local World Mental Health Day Activities 2021

As COVID-19 was still prevalent, the planning group (comprising of Launchpad North Tyneside, Supporting Stars and AIM) again encouraged people to do a self-led ‘mindful walk’ outdoors, where the virus is less easily passed on. Individuals and groups were free to choose their own date, route, length and scale of difficulty. This year, people were encouraged to capture their mindful moments by taking photographs using a camera, mobile or tablet. The best photographs could then be entered into the World Mental Health Day 2021 Photography Competition with the chance of winning the top prize of a £50 gift card. The closing date was extended to 21 November 2021.

Download the flyer here.

Download North Tyneside Council’s Active North Tyneside Team’s Healthy Walks resource below. Choose your favourite walk and improve your well-being through practising mindfulness and being physically active!

Healthy Walks in North Tyneside Folder

Healthy Walks in North Tyneside Inserts

What is Mindfulness?

“Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally,” Jon Kabat-Zinn

It can be able slowing racing thoughts, grounding yourself if the here and now, and really noticing the present moment.

A useful way to tune into the present is to focus on the senses. What can you hear, see, smell? How does the ground feel under your feet? Notice your breathing.

It is all about noticing rather than judging. Focusing on the senses can be like shining a spotlight on them. As a result the many other things in your awareness can fade into the background.

Going on a mindful walk can be a nice introduction to mindfulness. You might want to stop at one point and pay attention to all the different sounds you can hear. You might choose a different stopping

point and pay attention to your breathing. Here are some starter sentences for you to consider:

Above my head…

Beneath my feet…

I hear…

I see…

I smell…

I feel…

AIM’s WMHD Arts Calendar 2022

Send your photographs from your mindful walk (or photographs of your artwork inspired by the walk) to AIM for possible inclusion in the 2022 WMHD Arts Calendar

Why not make your mindful walk a sponsored walk as well?

Take the opportunity to raise funds for your favourite local or national charity. Examples of organisations in need of donations are:

Launchpad North Tyneside

Contact Mish Loraine launchpadnt@gmail.com

Newcastle and North Tyneside Altering Images of Mentality (AIM)

https://www.aimmentalhealth.org.uk/giving-donations/

Tyneside and Northumberland Mind

https://www.tynesidemind.org.uk/get-involved/fundraising-and-events.aspx

Fighting All Cancers Together (FACT)

Donate — FACT.Shop (factshop.co.uk)

Phoenix Detached Youth Project

https://localgiving.org/charity/pdyp/