MENTAL health professionals, community organisations and members of the public will combine this week for a powerful day of connection, collaboration and conversation as Cornwall marks World Mental Health Day.

The free ‘For Cornwall, By Cornwall’ event has been designed to shine a light on the breadth of mental health support available across the county, while encouraging professionals and the public alike to engage with the incredible services that are available.

Running from 9.30am until 4pm on Friday, October 10 and held at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, the day will feature a packed programme of interactive workshops, inspiring talks and a vibrant marketplace of local services.

A collaborative working group including Pentreath, Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust, Cornwall Mind, Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, Cornwall Rural Community Charity, The CHAOS Group, Eden Project, Cornwall College, Active Plus, and Volunteer Cornwall are behind the event, alongside the support of a dedicated team of volunteers.

“It’s about recognising that mental health is here, that people need support and where they can get that support from,” said Katie Mutton, Communication and Engagement Coordinator for Pentreath.

“There’s so much support here in Cornwall - but it’s finding it. The more we can talk about mental health, the more we can let people know what support is out there, the better.

“If you’re working in mental health, the chances are you have a caseload full of people who are in need of support. Not one company can do everything.

“That’s why this day is so powerful. It gives people the opportunity to network, to find out what’s going on and to signpost the people on their caseload to the right support.”

While the morning is focused on professionals working within the mental health sector, the event opens to the public from 1pm, offering a unique opportunity to explore the many ways people can access support.

“One in four people are going to experience poor mental wellbeing at some point,” continued Mutton. “We all have mental health - it’s when we can’t manage it that it becomes poor mental wellbeing.

“When you have somebody in front of you talking about their journey and how they’ve got through with support, it really encourages you to keep doing your job. It just inspires you.”

The venue itself - the National Maritime Museum - offers a unique backdrop for the event, with quiet spaces for reflection, areas for networking, and a surf exhibition downstairs, where The Wave Project will be hosting talks.

Mutton concluded: “Sometimes funding streams don’t get down to Cornwall. It can feel like we’re out on a limb but if we can all work together, I truly believe we can move more people forward.

“You don’t need to be suffering with mental health to come and find out information. It could be a best friend, a nan, someone you work with. We just need people to know what’s out there because then people are going to be able to access support quicker.”

For more information and to access the full agenda, visit: cornwallvsf.org/promoting/events/world-mental-health-day-for-cornwall-by-cornwall/