Major festival with a difference is being planned in Milton Keynes this Autumn - and everybody should 'attend' for at least one minute

The city's young people's counselling charity YiS is organising the mental health festival to raise awareness and bring the community together.

YiS has seen demand for its free services soar during lockdown.

The charity's team of wellbeing champions are creating a platform so everybody can focus on the importance of their mental health and wellbeing for one minute or more for World Mental Health Day on Saturday October 10.

The festival will feature an impressive line-up of activities designed to boost mental health, as well as live interviews and stories. It will include experts' tips for parents dealing with mental health problems their children may be experiencing.

Grace Spicer, 18 is events organiser and a volunteer for YiS. She said: “Mental health is vital. Especially during times like these. As volunteers, we created ‘Give your mind a minute’ to focus on the importance of mental health and wellbeing.

"Our virtual festival will feature a line-up of mental health-boosting activities, live interviews, stories and wellbeing sessions for everyone. We will be addressing the importance of sport and well-being, music for mental health, mental health stores, parents tips for mental health - the list goes on.”

World Mental Health Day, a day when the world comes together to raise awareness of mental health and mental illness. The theme for this year is around greater investment and greater access.

This comes at a time when we are experiencing the unprecedented impact of the global health emergency due to Covid-19 and the impact that this is having on the mental health of many, says YiS

The YiS event has been inspired by the champions' own mental health stories throughout their lives and how they got through it individually.

They hope to inspire others to be more open about their mental health throughout all aspects of their lives.

If you would like to learn more about the event or interested in showcasing how you look after your own wellbeing or that of others please do get in touch with the team via email on [email protected] .

Young People's Mental Health is a long running independent charity that works in Milton Keynes to help young people as well as the people that support them. It provides BACP-accredited counselling,, education and training and more for young people aged 11-21 in Milton Keynes.

The charity works with a range of issues including anxiety, depression, anger, recovery from abuse, family problems, relationship difficulties.

You can read more about YiS here .