BID plays host to mental health events

As lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on people 's mental health, Colmore Business Improvement District has launched a week-long programme of events for Mental Health Awareness Week, starting today.

Colmore BID has partnered with experts from Birmingham based Wellbeing in Your Office to curate a programme of workshops, promoting mindfulness, meditation and positive mental health.

This year 's Mental Health Awareness Week follows the theme of nature, which research says through immersion, can have long lasting positive effects on mental health, as it is central to our psychological and emotional health.

The weeklong activities begin today at 6pm with Mindfulness and Mental Health; a session that discusses the practical application of mindfulness and how it helps with improving mental health. The session will include meditation and practical takeaways that will help participants improve their mental wellbeing.

During an event being held tomorrow at 8am, Yoga and Mindfulness meditation will be on the menu, where participants will be encouraged to practice in their garden or local park (weather permitting) The session will finish with guided meditation utilising the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoor space you 're in.

On Thursday at 12pm a face-to-face session of Guided Outdoor Meditation in Church Street Square will be held.

Participants will be guided through a mindful meditation utilising the experiences within the outdoor environment. This will include both a sitting and walking meditation, where attendees will absorb the sounds, smells and sights of the area they are in.

The programme concludes on 14 May at 12pm with Mindful Walking and Creative Writing. This session will start with a short introduction to Mindfulness and Mindful walking in nature.

The instructor will then encourage participants to go outside and walk for 15 minutes and then return to the session where they will note and discuss each others experiences.

Michele Wilby, CEO of Colmore BID, said: “By working with leading mental health experts, we hope that our programme for Mental Health Awareness Week will provide participants with the tools and techniques to either identify signs of anxiety or in some cases help manage them.

“If, as an employer, you are unsure of how to support your team, we 'd urge you to speak to the experts to see what practices could be put into place.