This week (22-26 June 2020) marks World Wellbeing Week and during this period of lockdown, mental health, in particular, has never been so important. As a firm, mental health and wellbeing is paramount not just for our staff but within our local community.
Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich Mind (BLG Mind), our chosen charity for 2020/2021, provide support services to those living locally with a mental health problems or dementia. In the UK, one in four adults will experience a mental health problem in any one year (source: NHS Digital, Mental Health & Wellbeing in England, Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey). That could be someone within every family, every workplace and every friendship circle and equates to approximately 14 million people within the UK. A staggering statistic.
Given the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences, this figure is only likely to increase further and with charity funding being squeezed, it has never been more important to support a cause such as BLG Mind and at Grant Saw, we aim to play our part with an objective of raising £2,500 across the year and our first fundraising event takes place next Wednesday (1 July) with a virtual yoga event taking place on Zoom. This event is open to all: staff, their friends, families and colleagues and anybody within the community that wishes to join us in supporting such a worthy cause. The yoga event takes place from 5.30-6.30pm next Wednesday and we are asking for a minimum donation of £5 to join this virtual class from the comfort of your own home with all proceeds going to Bromley, Lewisham & Greenwich Mind. To book your tickets, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/grant-saw-remote-yoga-tickets-108686105066?ref=estw
Over the past ten years, depression has been on the rise across the world, affecting over 300 million people. This has increased by 10% according to the World Health Organisation. In the UK, 13 people take their own life each day – that’s nearly one every two hours (source: Office for National Statistics: Suicides in Great Britain).
In regards to dementia, around 225,000 will develop dementia this year, that’s one every three minutes whilst one in six people over the age of 80 have dementia. According to statistics from an Alzheimer’s Society survey, nine in ten of the nation’s dementia carer’s experience feelings of stress or anxiety several times per week.
During the past year, BLG Mind have helped over 7,000 people living in the local community via mental health and dementia support groups. This support also includes one to one counselling and advice plus information, training and dementia respite care.
We are proud to support BLG Mind and hope to raise as much money as we possibly can from our virtual yoga event next week.
Stay tuned for further information on events and activities as we strive to hit our fundraising target for 2020/2021.