Mental health support group SpeakUpCIC is holding a community event tomorrow (May 12) to mark Mental Health Awareness Week and to celebrate the group’s 15th anniversary.
SpeakUp CIC offers peer support and advice for people in Thanet and east Kent living with mental health needs.
Mental health issues are high within the district, evidenced by a significant amount of hospitalisation due to mental health and related issues, and the higher level of deprivation compared to the rest of Kent.
Thanet also has a notably higher suicide rate compared to the rest of Kent, and a higher rate compared to the national average (13.4 per 100,000 people).
Recorded statistics recently shared as part of Thanet council’s suicide prevention strategy show 17% of Thanet residents have or are experiencing depression and 253.3 per 100,000 people have been admitted to hospital due to self harm.
Tragically, 45.2 people per 100,000 have had their cause of death recorded as “Deaths of despair,” a term used to highlight those whose deaths have been associated with social and economic hardship.
Substance misuse and mental health have high co-occurrence in Thanet in approximately 70-80% of all cases.
For many, support is offered by SpeakUpCIC, including service user forums to capture and raise issues and concerns, peer support groups and activities, social media support groups, signposting and advice. The group is also part of Live Well Kent.
In January SpeakUpCIC moved to a new base at Margate Baptist Church Hall in New Street after the council shut down its former home at Margate Media Centre due to the building being deemed ‘uninhabitable.’
The Mental Health Aawreness event will take place at Margate Baptist Church Hall from 11am to 3pm, New Street entrance (at rear of the Church)
It is SpeakUpCIC’s first event of the year and will be their biggest event to date. This year’s theme is ‘Action’ so the event will focus on promoting positive actions that we can take to help improve wellbeing.
The event, which is open to the public, will include a range of exhibition stands promoting services and support available within Thanet. There will be fun activities to take part in alongside art and craft displays produced by SpeakUpCIC members and a postcard competition.
To help celebrate the group’s anniversary there will be refreshments and cakes available at a nominal cost.
Everyone is welcome to the event.
For further information contact Kay on: 07543 977670 or email: [email protected]
Find SpeakUpCIC at: https://www.speakupcic.co.uk/
Tragically, 45.2 people per 100,000 have had their cause of death recorded as “Deaths of despair,” a term used to highlight those whose deaths have been associated with social and economic hardship.
A quick online search suggests that assertion is a bit of a stretch.
Deaths of Despair is a catch all for deaths resulting from Alcoholism. Suicide and Drug poisoning, the term itself is’nt ( again from a websearch) used on death certificates.
Poor use of descriptions and statistics to push an agenda. Difficult to applaud an organisation that stoops to suvpch levels.