Gissing, Winfarthing and Shelfhanger have become Mindful Villages after local people undertook training held by South Norfolk Council.
The free training session provided mental health awareness and education and gave participants the skills and resources they need to help support people suffering with mental health issues.
South Norfolk Council’s Deputy Leader, Graham Minshull and local Member, James Easter visited to congratulate the villages’ new certified Wellbeing Champions.
Graham Minshull, said: “According to the charity Mind, one in four people will experience mental health issues in England this year, so the more people we can train to support them, the better. Having wellbeing champions in the community means that people can get help immediately, with no wait to see a doctor or for a referral, this could make a huge difference to our residents’ wellbeing.”
The scheme, which is already up and running in towns and villages across the district, also challenges the associated stigma around the illness, with Wellbeing Champions encouraged to have open conversations about mental health in the community.
The Council works with the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust’s Wellbeing Service and workplace health provider Thriving Workplaces to train Wellbeing Champions, with funding from the South Norfolk and Broadland Health and Wellbeing Partnership.
The Council’s Help Hub is supporting all Wellbeing Champions and has a Mental Health Support Worker to talk through residents’ concerns and provide advice on next steps, and the different services available.
Professional support will also be provided by Evolve for any referrals by Wellbeing Champions for more complex cases.
All groups will receive branding that shows they have Wellbeing Champions in recognition of their commitment and training.
The next training session will be held in Poringland on 29 August. For more information visit www.southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk/communities/mindful-towns-villages
