Celebrating Mental Health Recovery Event 2026
Our annual Celebration of Mental Health Recovery Event is taking place on Wednesday 18 November, from 9.00am to 3.00pm, at the Marquee, Alona Hotel, Strathclyde Park, Motherwell, ML1 3RT. This special event is open to anyone with lived or living experience of poor mental health. The day will provide an opportunity to connect with others, take part in interactive workshops, learn about local support services and celebrate the strengths and achievements of individuals and communities across Lanarkshire. Highlights of the day include: A range of engaging workshops focused on recovery and wellbeing Host for the day: the amazing Edward Reid Entertainment from Soundsational, Lanarkshire’s award-winning choir The premier of Buffering. A new play by Glen Dickson Information stands and resources from local organisations Opportunities to network, share experiences and learn from others The event is free of charge and lunch will be provided. To book your free place, please use the link below or the QR code on the poster attached. https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/GvK0gy9GmS?origin=lprLink Places are limited, so we encourage you to book early. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an inspiring, uplifting and enjoyable day celebrating mental health recovery across Lanarkshire. For any enquiries please contact susan.mcmorrin@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
Mental Health Awareness Week 2026
The theme for Mental Health Awareness Week 11th– 17th May 2026, organized by the Mental Health Foundation, is Take Action. They are asking people to join in taking action to support good mental health. Even small actions can help us feel hopeful and less powerless, and while our individual actions matter, when we come together we are even more powerful. For more information & free resources go to the following link Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Foundation
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2026
SMHAF Programme 2026 now launched Now in its 20th year, the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival has launched its 2026 programme. Packed with over 180 incredible events, this milestone edition will celebrate the passion, commitment and creativity of artists and communities who will be lighting up grassroots spaces and cultural venues across Scotland this October and November. For 20 years, the festival has championed the voices of people with lived experience, challenged stigma, shaped conversations, inspired movements and celebrated creativity in all its forms. This year’s theme, Reflections, invites artists, communities and audiences alike to pause, take stock and explore how our experiences, stories and creativity shape our mental health, individually and collectively. With film, theatre, music, visual arts, writing, workshops and lots more, there’s something for all audiences. Discover the full programme and book tickets at www.mhfestival.com. To view the full digital brochure go to the following link MHF_SMHAF26_Brochure_A5_DIGITAL_SINGLES.pdf Lanarkshire Choir Collective Unites Leading Local Choirs for Landmark Mental Health Arts Project Some of Lanarkshire’s leading choirs are joining forces for an inspiring new initiative that will celebrate the power of music to support mental health, wellbeing and community connection. The Lanarkshire Choir Collective, supported by Lanarkshire’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival, Go Radio and Foundry Creative Alchemy, will bring together hundreds of singers from across Lanarkshire. The project is being led by Tommy Chambers, Musical Director of SoundSational Community Choir and forms part of the 2026 Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. The choir collective will use the power of choral music to promote understanding, compassion and hope. As part of the project, singers from towns, villages and rural communities across Lanarkshire will come together to record a powerful performance of Sanctuary by Jason Robert Brown, an uplifting work centred on safety, belonging and human connection during life’s most challenging moments. The performance will be professionally recorded and filmed, creating a lasting artistic legacy for Lanarkshire’s choral community. The collaboration will culminate in a special concert at Hamilton Town House on Thursday 29 October 2026, where each choir will perform its own repertoire while also joining together for the massed choir performance of Sanctuary, reflecting the festival’s shared message of mental health and community. Participating Choirs Arietta Choir Cantabile The Farmers Choir The Grace Notes Choir KC Community Choir Motherwell Diocesan Choir SoundSational Community Choir South Lanarkshire Schools Choir For tickets go to South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture | Tickets for THE LANARKSHIRE CHOIR COLLECTIVE at undefined | Buy With Confidence. Secure tickets in partnership with Quaytickets. THE OTHER SIDE Film, Screening: Commonplace Pictures presents a brand new short film by award winning playwright and filmmaker Glen Dickson, commissioned by NHS Lanarkshire. When the weight gets too heavy, do you keep showing up or do you slip away quietly for good? A tender, unflinching piece that finds light in those places we’re taught not to look.2.00pm–3.00pm Strathaven Town Mill Theatre, Stonehouse Rd, Strathaven, ML10 6FF Wheelchair Accessible FREE forms.cloud.microsoft/e/sfW3a4JGG8
Training
There are a number of Mental Health & Suicide Prevention training courses available. The training Pathway explains the levels of training available & how to access. Training opportunities include the following: Ask, Tell, Save a Life — Mental Health, Compassionate Conversations and Suicide Prevention- 2 hour online or in person Learning overview: To inform everyone about mental health and the prevention of suicide so that they may be able to promote good mental health, respond to distress and help people seek help. Go to the following link for dates & booking:https://forms.office.com/e/pAsnEpE37K Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) (2 full days in person). People must attend both days. Learning overview: To teach participants to carry out life-saving interventions for people with thoughts of suicide. For information on booking, email at the following links: South Lanarkshire Training North Lanarkshire Training Understanding Mental Health Stigma & Discrimination (1.5 hours online) Understanding and tackling stigma and discrimination is foundational to all mental health and wellbeing incentives and work streams as well as the provision of services. Learning overview: To equip participants with the knowledge to confidently join a stigma free movement for change. For more information contact:Audrey.lrn@lanarkshirelinks.org.uk or David.lrn@lanarkshirelinks.org.uk Healthy Working Lives- Mental Health Support For Workplaces Healthy Working Lives is a free NHS Scotland service dedicated to improving workplace health, safety and well‑being across Scotland. As part of Public Health Scotland, our mission is to help employers create environments where employees can thrive physically and mentally. This benefits individuals, families, businesses, communities and the wider Scottish economy. Our goal is to help employers build productive, inclusive and sustainable workplaces that protect and promote fair and healthy working practices. This supports all workers to enter progress and remain in work throughout their working lives. Workplaces play a vital role in keeping people healthy and in work. Small, practical changes can prevent absence, strengthen resilience and protect productivity. Healthy Working Lives offers free resources, training and local expert support to help employers take early, effective action that enables staff to stay well, engaged and performing at their best. For more information contact:Healthy Working Lives LanarkshireEmail – enquirieshwl@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival
The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) is a National Festival that has been running since 2012. The festival was developed to promote positive attitudes towards mental health, mental illness, support and recovery, and to effect significant cultural change through the insights and influences of the creative arts. The festival fundamentally seeks to strengthen the links between arts, community and public organisations. Festival Aims The festival is part of a wider programme of mental health improvement, which aims to: Promote positive attitudes around mental health problems. Increase understanding of mental health and well-being – and how we can promote and support our own and others mental health and well-being. Increase awareness of what help and support is available. As well as the above objectives the festival also wishes to: Increase awareness of the important part that the arts can play in supporting and promoting mental health and well-being. To engage with the local media to support mental health awareness. To increase participation by varying the opportunities to engage by using different mediums, targeting different age spans, spreading across Lanarkshire and creatively promoting the events. To link with existing arts and cultural programmes to showcase sustainable projects and build mental health awareness into existing projects and programmes. To strengthen the links between arts, community, academic, voluntary and public organisations. To challenge and engage on the topics of stigma, recovery and mental health inequalities. Lanarkshire has actively been involved with the festival since its inception & delivers an extensive programme each year. After the success of previous festival campaigns, Lanarkshire is delighted to announce their participation in the 19th Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. SMHAF 2025 will take place from Monday 20 October to Sunday 9 November. It will explore the theme Comfort and Disturb. “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable”. As always, the theme is full of creative possibilities and we are excited to experience all the diverse, inspiring and illuminating ways that artists and communities interpret it, this October/November. If you would like to submit a proposal for funding please complete the attached form & return by 2nd June 2025 to susan.mcmorrin@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk Download Form
Stigma Free Lanarkshire
Stigma Free Lanarkshire is a programme that aims to end mental health stigma and discrimination. We are supporting Lanarkshire Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan, 2024-2026 that pledges to work together to lift the stigma and discrimination often surrounding mental health, putting it on an equal par with physical health. We know that tackling stigma and discrimination is foundational to achieving a mentally healthy Lanarkshire in every area of life from workplaces and education to Health and Social Care and communities. We want to collectively create the conditions for prevention and recovery, enabling people to lead fulfilled lives as defined by them. The programme is focused on the power of individual actions that collectively bring about real change. Our programme board supports our current work plan and includes experts in the fields of health and social care with specialities in mental health, wellbeing, health promotion and suicide prevention among others. The programmes key aims are that: People will understand that we all have a part to play in creating a mentally health Lanarkshire. People will recognise stigma and discrimination. People will understand the impact of stigma and discrimination on individuals and communities. People will know strategies to prevent mental health stigma and discrimination. People will be confident in tackling stigma and discrimination. People know where to access supports and resources. Empower people with lived experience. Embed anti-stigma practices throughout. People will know how to promote safe, open and inclusive environments. For more information: https://www.lanarkshirelinks.org.uk/stigma-free-lanarkshire/