Free World Mental Health Day Event in Falmouth Offers Support and Awareness

Mental health professionals, community organisations and members of the public will come together this month 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 highlight the wide range of mental health support available across the county, while encouraging professionals and the public alike to engage with services that can make a difference.

When and Where

Running from 9.30am until 4.00pm on Friday, 10th October, the event will be held at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

The day will feature interactive workshops, inspiring talks and a vibrant marketplace of local services. Entry is free and includes access to the National Maritime Museum, with no pre-booked tickets required for members of the public.

More details, including the full agenda, can be found here.

📷Autumn wreath making with The Eden Project - Credit CHAOS Digital

Who’s Behind It

A collaborative working group is leading the event, with support from volunteers. The organisations involved include:

• Pentreath

• Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust

• Cornwall Mind

• Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum

• Cornwall Rural Community Charity

• The CHAOS Group

• Eden Project

• Cornwall College

• Active Plus

• Volunteer Cornwall

Katie Mutton, Communication and Engagement Coordinator for Pentreath, explained:

“It’s about recognising that mental health is here, that people need support and where they can get that support from. 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.”

📷Interactive workshop with Drums 4 Fun - Credit CHAOS Digital

For Professionals and the Public

The morning will be focused on professionals working in the mental health sector. From 1.00pm, the event opens its doors to the public, giving everyone the chance to explore the different ways support can be accessed.

Katie added:

“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.”

Inspiring Stories and Unique Spaces

The event will also focus on sharing lived experiences.

“One in four people are going to experience poor mental wellbeing at some point,” Katie continued. “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 National Maritime Museum will provide quiet spaces for reflection, networking areas, and even a surf exhibition where The Wave Project will host talks.

Collaboration Across Cornwall

Katie stressed the importance of working together:

“We’re trying to promote collaboration. 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.”

📷Zara Shoesmith of The People in Mind Project with members of Supasport South West - Credit CHAOS Digital