News & Events

The mental health of carers hit the headliners over the weekend after the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) said they should be routinely screened for signs of depression.

RCGP Chairwoman Dr Clare Gerada explained to the BBC how carers were at a very high risk group for both physical and mental health issues during an interview on the BBC News Channel - Carers at high risk of depression, say doctors' leaders.

Following Dr Gerada's interview several viewers contacted the BBC to relate their own experiences of being a carer which at times meant they made difficult decisions regarding their own health - 'I was in tears': Carers tell their stories.

The Guardian website and then Sky News published their own versions of the story which you can read via the following links:

• Carers should be monitored for mental health problems, warn doctors
• Carers 'Should Be Screened For Depression'

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week with this year's campaign themed around physical activity and well-being.

For one week each May, the Mental Health Foundation campaigns around a specific theme for Mental Health Awareness Week.

This year's campaign runs until this Sunday (19 May) and will be highlighting the impact exercise has on mental health and wellbeing.

Exercise can do a lot to enhance our happiness and quality of life and as a result reduce mental illness and there are a host of events planned for the coming week which support this idea.

Since the first Mental Health Awareness Week in 2000 the campaign has helped explain to the public how things like loneliness, anger, fear, alcohol and friendship can influence our mental health.

For further information about this year's campaign please visit the Mental Health Awareness Week page on the Mental Health Foundation website.

A national charity is looking for people to become trainers in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) within Wales.

Mind Cymru would like to hear from anyone interested in taking the MHFA (Wales) course which teaches people how to provide initial help and support to anyone experiencing mental health problems.

There are currently more than 10,000 mental health first aiders across the country and the organisation is looking for people to join its existing team of Welsh instructors.

The charity is particularly keen to hear from men, Welsh speakers, people over 50, people from Black Minority Ethnic backgrounds and anyone who considers themselves to be disabled.

Training to become an adult MHFA instructor starts between now and June with the youth courses set to start in June and July.

For further information please read the Could you teach Mental Health First Aid (Wales)? page on the Mind Cymru website or for more details about MHFA please visit the Mental Health First Aid (Wales) website.