National Forum for Health and Wellbeing
NEWS RELEASE No: 1– 21, dated 15th. February 2021
Free Virtual Seminar – 27th. February 2021 at 2.00 pm

COPING with COVID 19

Mental Health Support for life in the Pandemic

Do you or family and friends have anxieties about COVID-19? The National Forum for Health and Wellbeing is holding a virtual interactive public engagement seminar on current mental health issues particularly those associated with the pandemic. This free event features eminent speakers including leading psychiatrists and medical professionals, community leaders, the past president of the Royal College of Psychiatry and Chair of the Children & Young People’s Mental Health Coalition Dame Sue Bailey OBE, with additional support from a distinguished team of mental health experts. It will take place between 2.00 & 3.00 pm on Saturday 27th. February and can be accessed live and as a recording via the web-link https://nfhw.org.uk/mental-health-seminar

As an organisation we are very aware that the mental health burden on individuals and society in the UK is ever
increasing and, over the years and despite the efforts of relevant NHS bodies, the situation is worsening for a number of reasons.

Not least of these is the fact that the waiting list for help is long and counselling and treatments are often delayed
leading in many cases to an increased risk of deterioration. However, foremost amongst our concerns is the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic which has made the situation worse as individuals suffer the effects of lock-down and show
reluctance to seek help because of the need to self-isolate.

There are many additional stress factors associated with COVID-19 for example long Covid and other neurological and mental conditions associated with the disease itself, free floating anxiety, loss of income, bereavement etc. Together these factors will be at the heart of our seminar.

We believe that public engagement activities promote mental health literacy and reduce the negative perceptions
associated with mental illness amongst attendees. This reflects a combination of education-based activity and learning promoted by contact between the public and people with mental health conditions.

We hope, in holding this event, to educate as well as to learn from the public what can be done to help. We have
designed this seminar as a strengths-based process. Individuals and their relatives suffering with mental health
conditions can form a healing connection with our organisation so that we can help support their recovery and wellness within the context of family, culture and community.

Questions likely to be addressed during the seminar include:
• Why is mental health important?
• What are common mental health issues?
• What is sorted and what remains to be sorted in mental health?
• Value of family and community in addressing mental health problems.
• The patient voice in mental health architecture – patient groups.
• Mental health and ethnic minority.
• Covid and post-covid impact on mental health-
• Unconventional methods to address mental health.
• Mental health – impact on family and future generation.
• New ideas for improving mental health in the UK.
Our aim for the seminar is that it will be a greatly engaging and enabling exercise that will have a long-lasting impact on participants. This is a real opportunity to gain insight into some of the pressing mental health issues that you, your family and friends may currently be facing and to learn of potential sources of help.

Do join us on February 27th for what we hope will be a mutually rewarding experience
For further information about the seminar please contact:
Dr Rajeev Gupta at raj@rajeev.me.uk

ENDS

Notes for Editors
• The National Forum for Health and Wellbeing (NFHW) is a registered charity (No 1159443) based in the Centre
for Research into Health and Wellbeing at the University of Bolton. It is dedicated to the support of community
involvement in the promotion of health and well-being.

• NFHW works in partnership with a wide range of organisations including the University of Central Lancashire and
the University’s Creative Communities Group, the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust,
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, North West Ambulance NHS Trust, the Gujarat Hindu
Society and a wide range of NHS and voluntary organisations including many of the Medical Royal Colleges.

• Further information about NFHW can be found on our website www.nfhw.org.uk or by contacting the Hon
Secretary Sarifa.kabir@btinternet.com