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It starts today! Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, Mental Health Awareness Week will take place from 18-24 May 2020. The theme is kindness.

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for everyone’s mental health. With prevention at the heart of what they do, they aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.

Infectious disease outbreaks, like the current coronavirus (COVID-19), can be scary and can affect our mental health. Whether you are a key worker or staying at home, there are ways you can help other people and yourselves to get through the outbreak with as little emotional distress as possible.

Kindness and Mental Health 

Kindness is defined by doing something towards yourself and others, motivated by genuine desire to make a positive difference.  We know from the research that kindness and our mental health are deeply connected. The research shows that kindness is an antidote to isolation and creates a sense of belonging. It helps reduce stress, brings a fresh perspective and deepens friendships. Kindness to ourselves can prevent shame from corroding our sense of identity and help boost our self-esteem.  Kindness can even improve feelings of confidence and optimism.

A kinder society? 

We have a once in a generation opportunity not only during but also following this pandemic for a reset and re-think about what kind of society we want to emerge from this crisis.

Applied kindness could have a transformative impact on our schools, places of work, communities and families. As the former Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has said, now is a time to put values above valuations. We must seize this time to shape a society that tips the balance in favour of good mental health, for all of us, but especially for those who are most vulnerable.

Here at Cavendish Conference Venues we have a few team members who have been great doing acts of kindness during this pandemic. Elena volunteers in her local Covid-19 Community Support Group, which comprises of around 200 volunteers and to date they have helped over 180 members of the local community. Rachel leaves chocolates and flour (which seems to be in shortage) on her neighbours’ doorsteps and Tom gets a Daily Mail for his elderly neighbour every day! Even the smallest gestures can help!

Mental Health Awareness Week

During Mental Health Awareness Week, the Mental Health Foundation are asking us to do three things:

Reflect on an act of kindness. Share your stories and pictures (with permission) of kindness during the week using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

Use their resources in your family, school, workplace and community to join with thousands in practising acts of kindness to yourself and others during the week

Share your ideas on how you think we could build a kinder society that would support our mental health using #KindnessMatters and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

About us:

We are proud of our continually improved London conference venues: Cavendish Conference Centre; America Square Conference Centre; Hallam Conference Centre; Conway Hall Conference Venue and De Morgan House Events Venue – all award-winning for their continuous achievement in exceptional service.