Hungerford Bookshop and Hungerford Hub launches mental health and wellbeing event series
HUNGERFORD Bookshop is holding a series of events centred around mental health and wellbeing in association with the Hungerford Hub, writes Emma Cole.
The Well Read Mind series of free events spans from the end of May until July and involves online and in-person talks by authors with accompanying spin off workshops.
The event will start on May 27 with a talk by author Sue Stuart-Smith about her Sunday Times Bestseller The Well Gardened Mind, which discusses how gardening can reduce stress levels, and will be accompanied with a soil drawing workshop with garden designer Emma Binns.
Bookshop co-owner Emma Milne-White said: “We realised that especially in the wake of the pandemic it would be good to have a season of events all about how we can make positive changes to affect our mental and physical health.
“Books have been really important in the pandemic because when we couldn’t go anywhere you could still sit in your armchair and visit different places in the world.
“Books are an enormous source of comfort and escapism.”
Hungerford Hub manager Andrea Hodgkin added: “We are really excited about this project, which we believe will truly benefit our wonderful community after what can only be described as a very challenging year.
“We encourage anyone who wants to learn about the changes we can make to improve our mental health and wellbeing to register for some of these inspiring free events.”
The series of talks will also include Caroline Williams discussing her book Move! The Science of Body Over Mind on June 22, which looks at how fitness can affect how mentally fit people are and Dr Stuart Farrimond, author of The Science of Living, sharing his tips on how to get a better night’s sleep, which will be followed by a slumber inducing yoga session.
To book visit the Hungerford Bookshop or Hungerford Hub website.
You can find more help and advice from the following organisations:
Time to Talk: www.t2twb.org or call (01635) 760331. You can also find help and advice on the charity’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (all @t2twb) or by emailing hello@t2twb.org
You can visit recoveryinmind.org and find a number of resources to help you look after your mental health.
Eight Bells for Mental Health: www.eightbellsnewbury.co.uk – call 07387 962220 – email coordinator@eightbellsnewbury.co.uk
Talking Therapies – www.talkingtherapies.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk – call 0300 365 2000
Mental Health Crisis Team – call if you need urgent help, but it’s not an emergency 0300 365 0300 or 0300 365 9999
Sane Line – www.sane.org.uk – call 0300 304 7000
The Samaritans: www.samaritans.org – call 116 123 – email jo@samaritans.org
Childline: www.childline.org.uk – 0800 1111
Mind: www.mind.org.uk – 0300 123 3393 or text 86463
