Sandy Walker? lecturer in Mental Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences? is organising a week of activity around World Mental Health Day? which is on Monday October 10th 2011.

The week of activity kicks off on Saturday 8th October with stalls in Portsmouth town centre giving out information on Mental Health and an evening opening celebration of open mic poetry with a mental health theme at the Florence Arms in Southsea.

The week of activity is focused around the main conference to be held on the Monday at Portsmouth Guildhall, entitled “Mental Health – Everyone’s Business” and will be opened by the Major of Portsmouth to celebrate service user empowerment and to help reduce the stigma towards mental health.

Sandy who is a keen musician and is in her own band, Walker Broad has incorporated her love of music and the arts in most of the events across the week, culminating in a gig by her band on the Friday night, 14th October at the NBESCA club in Onslow Road, Southsea.

There is so much to be packed into this week with art exhibitions, a listening tent, an open day at St James’ hospital and a real person library. The line up is due to all services collaborating in an extraordinary way and for a tiny budget (for which Art for Arts, a charitable service user fund has contributed the majority) and an army of volunteers who have given their time to help co-ordinate and assist during the week. All of the events and the conference are free and open to anyone. If you are interested in hearing more or would like to be involved either contact Sandy by email at s.c.walker@soton.ac.uk or visit the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mental-Health-Everyones-Business/160460967372290