Search Emergency Contacts Mind Birmingham Home What We Do Getting Involved Training Latest News Contact Us Home › Uncategorized › Walking Out Of The Darkness – Birmingham Saturday 6th May 2017 Walking Out Of The Darkness – Birmingham Saturday 6th May 2017 Posted Monday 13th March 2017 The ‘Walking out of Darkness’ event provides an excellent opportunity for people to come together and help take a stand against mental health stigma by raising awareness of mental health problems and suicide prevention. The Birmingham walk, on Saturday, May 6, and another in London, the following Saturday, May 13, mark the start and finish of Mental Health Awareness Week. The 8.5 mile walk starts in Eastside Park in Birmingham and follows the canal network to end at Mental Health Festival in Cannon Hill park, where there will be information and support organisations. People can register now to join in Walking Out Of Darkness Participants pay a £10 fee to register which covers insurance, event administration, goodie bags and t-shirts. Registering could not be easier; Sign up to the ‘Walking Out Of Darkness’ event to receive your free goody bag and pay the one off entry of £10 here Set up your online Just Giving or Virgin Money page for Birmingham Mind Contact fundraising@birminghammind.org for further support. Supt Sean Russell, WMCA Mental Health Commission implementation director, said: “We’re hoping for a big turn-out for this event. The aim is to raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention, show our support for each other and end the stigma which makes these issues even more difficult for people to deal with” It is a great opportunity to promote all the wonderful work already taking place in the region and share experience and ideas. Together we really can make a difference. People are invited to take part and raise money for any local or national mental health and suicide prevention charities. It is an opportunity for everyone to walk together in support and unity for individuals and families suffering from mental health difficulties and those who have lost loved ones to suicide. Over the last three years these events have inspired and motivated thousands of people, businesses, charities and services across the country to unite to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. Norman Lamb MP, chair of the West Midlands Mental Health Commission, attended last year’s London event. He said “I’m thrilled that ‘Walking Out of Darkness’ is coming to the West Midlands. Having taken part this year in the London event I know how positive it can be and I will be joining the walk in Birmingham this year” “Most families are touched by mental ill health in some way or other – and ours is no exception.” “We need to talk openly about the challenges people face – together, we can confront the stigma of mental ill health and of suicide”. The events are also supported by Business in the Community, who recent survey of mental health at work across the UK found thousands of people with poor mental health are suffering in silence, unable to share their condition or illness with colleagues or managers at work. The survey found that 77% of employees have experienced symptoms of poor mental health at some point in their lives and 62% of employees attributed their symptoms of poor mental health to work, or said that work was a contributing factor. Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce chief executive Paul Faulkner said: “We are pleased to be supporting ‘Walking Out Of Darkness”. “Mental health issues can affect any person, from any background and at any stage of their life. It is important that the local business community does its bit to ensure a greater understanding of the subject and combat the stigma that can surround mental health.” The National Institute of Health & Care Excellence (NICE) found that, of the 6,233 people who took their own life in 2014, more than 70% were not known to mental health services or the NHS, and suffered in silence due to the stigma surrounding mental illness. Mental illness and suicide can touch anyone in every walk of life, not only families but the wider business community – with every suicide by someone of working age having an overall cost to the UK economy exceeding £1.6 million. One in four people in the UK is directly affected by poor mental health wellness. Good luck and thank you in advance for your support. Archives November 2021 October 2021 July 2021 June 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 March 2020 October 2019 July 2019 February 2019 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 © 2021 Mind Birmingham We're a part of Mind We're a registered charity (no. 1003906) and a registered company (no. 2024372) in England Web Design by Carbon Creative