Mental health: we can all help
A PRINCIPAL researcher for a UK mental health charity said nowhere engages mental health issues with children as well as Guernsey.
Dr David Crepaz-Keay, head of empowerment and social inclusion at the Mental Health Foundation, is in the island as part of Guernsey Mental Health Awareness Week.
When he was 14 or 15 he began hearing and seeing things and was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The week has had an 'elephant' theme, with mental health seen as the 'elephant in the room'. Schoolchildren were asked to decorate bells to adorn the elephants. The bells were to represent one of the 'five ways to wellbeing' – dubbed 'CLANG' – Connecting, Learning, being Active, taking Notice and Giving.
'Nowhere engages with children as well as here,' said Dr Crepaz-Keay. 'It (the decorated elephants) is a really smart idea.'
He said this is a way of giving a positive image to children.
'It is very important and will pay dividends for years to come.'
