HEALTH HELP IN VILLAGE AT CARNIVAL

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Health help in village at carnival

A pop-up village at the Caribbean Carnival on Saturday will aim to help people with mental health issues.

The idea is part of the national Time to Change campaign to tackle discrimination.

The village will be staffed by volunteers with mental health problems – including some from the British Caribbean community – with the aim of encouraging people to talk more openly about issues.

Staff from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which runs mental health services in the county, will also be on hand.

There will also be entertainment including face painting, arts and crafts and jewellery making.

Sue Baker, director of Time to Change, said: "By being at this event we will bring people with and without mental health problems together to get new conversations started, which helps to tackle stigma and misunderstanding."

Saquib Muhammad, from the trust, said: "If we can tackle discrimination, people will find it easier to seek help."

The village will be open from 2pm to 8pm in Victoria Park.