Last week Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust got behind Time to Talk Day, on Thursday 1 February, with a series of activities which aimed to inspire people to talk about mental health.

The day was part of Time to Change’s national campaign, which aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness by getting people to talk openly about issues that can affect us all.

In the run up to Time to Talk Day the Care Trust worked in partnership with colleges across the district and invited students to pledge their support to get talking about their mental wellbeing by posting pledge pictures on social media.  Students were encouraged to be as creative as possible to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Judges including the Care Trust’s Paul Hogg, Director of Corporate Affairs and Salts Mill’s Robin Silver selected the winner and two runners-up. Bradford Bulls rugby player Ross Peltier was delighted to reveal the winners of the competition on the Trust’s social media pages during Time to Talk Day.  Craven College Students’ Union group entry scooped the first prize. The winning entry was selected for its ‘vibrant togetherness’ and for the thought provoking pledge card messages featured on the photograph, which included students pledging to ‘talk and be open about my mental health and to be open and approachable to others’ and ‘to be honest about my mental health and help others who struggle similarly’. Second and third place entries went to students at Shipley College.

Across the community people also shared their experience online and activities led by the Trust sparked conversations in schools, homes and workplaces, including Care Trust staff pledging their support by taking a ‘pledge pic’, which was shared across the Trust’s social media in the run-up to the event.  Bradford Bulls and and the Bradford Bulls Foundation, Bradford City Football Club, Cast of Hello Dolly, Ramsons Gents Studio, Starbucks Centenary Square, Don’t Tell Titus Bar/Restaurant, BCB Radio, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Yorkshire Police and the Telegraph and Argus also got behind the campaign.

The free NHS service, MyWellbeing College, designed to help people navigate their way through life’s ups and downs, also backed the campaign and encouraged people to get talking about everyday problems that can affect our mood. The service, run in partnership by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and local voluntary and community organisations, aims to increase personal wellbeing. People can register themselves online at www.bmywellbeingcollege.nhs.uk or join a group six week course, whatever suits their needs. Phone advice or one-to-one courses at a range of locations are also available and the website offers a range of free guides and tools to help people better manage life’s ups and downs.

The MyWellbeing College is open to anyone over the age of 16 who is registered with a GP in Bradford, Wharfedale, Airedale or Craven.  People don’t have to go through their GP to enrol on a course, they can register online at www.bmywellbeingcollege.nhs.uk or give the enrolment team a call on 0300 555 5551 to chat through the range of options available.