Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event when there is an opportunity for the whole of the UK to focus on achieving good mental health. This year the theme is combatting loneliness.
From 9-15 May we will be raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it.
Our connection to other people and our community is fundamental to protecting our mental health and we need to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness. Throughout the week there will be a range of events to help the CCCU Community to connect.
Every Weekday, 3pm – Tea at Three, Chaplaincy
Join the Chaplaincy team for tea, coffee, biscuits and conversation!
Tuesday 10 May, 3pm – Students’ Union Wellbeing Walk and Talk
Join the Students’ Union for a walk around Canterbury. Starting at Old Sessions, we will be walking through the Cathedral grounds, then heading through Westgate Gardens and finishing our walk in Dane John. Then join us at Augustine House for some refreshments!
Tuesday 10 May, 5-7pm – Chooseday Chill, Augustine House
Why not take some time out with Chooseday Chill – an opportunity to relax over some free tea and toast, play some board games, give table tennis a go and have a chat with other students and the Student Wellbeing team.
Wednesday 11 May, 12noon – 4pm – Potter and Prune, Johnson Wellbeing Garden
Drop-in to the beautiful Johnson Wellbeing Garden… Put on your gardening gloves and learn some gardening tips or just simply potter and enjoy the surroundings!
Wednesday 11 May, 7-9pm – Canterbury Christ Church Creative’s Affirmation Card Activity (The deadline for booking is Friday 6 May)
Affirmation cards are greetings cards pre-printed with a design to colour and write a positive message to the card’s recipient. Participants will be able to choose to have a kit of four cards of different designs and ideas for affirmations to work on in their own time, or to have a kit and attend a workshop to decorate their cards in the company of others.
The workshop will take place on Wednesday 11 May from 7pm to 9pm and people will be able to choose to either attend in-person or virtually via Teams. There’s a small charge of £3, payable via PayPal or bank transfer, to cover the cost of the kit and postage where required. If you would like to take part, please email canterburychristchurchcreative@gmail.com with your name and whether you would like a kit only, or a kit and to attend the workshop. You will then be emailed with further details and how to make your payment.
Thursday 12 May, 3pm – Students’ Union Wellbeing Coffee Afternoon, The Lounge
Join the Students’ Union for an afternoon of coffee and board games, to help you relax during exam season. Catch up with friends or meet some new people this Mental Health Awareness Week!
Friday 13 May, 1pm – Lego Connect, Chaplaincy
It’s official – research has shown that playing with Lego reduces stress as well as it being fun! So why not unwind from the week, get away from those computer screens and join the Chaplaincy for its weekly Lego fest. You can work on your own projects or take part in some joint builds – you can even borrow some Lego sets to take home!
Saturday 14 May, 7.30pm - The Cathedrals Group Choirs Festival Performance, Canterbury Cathedral
Music is a wonderful way for people to come together. Join us for a feast of choral music provided by the choirs of the universities that comprise the Cathedrals Group (universities bound together by their church foundation). There will be a performance from each choir, before the choirs unite for the performance of a major choral work. Visit our Arts and Culture pages to book your place.
And then as part of European Public Health Awareness Week on Thursday 19th May 1pm in Powell Pf06, a film screening of ‘Rocks’ a coming of age British film followed by panel disucssion
Monday 9 May, 6pm – 7pm - Mindfulness Monday: How to Improve Your Sleep, Virtual event
Tuesday 10 May, 11am -3pm - Relaxation Massages, Drill Hall Library
The Moves App is a great way to help you get active which we know is good for your physical and mental wellbeing. Help combat loneliness by grabbing a friend or family member and get moving together with these exciting Move challenges!
Everyone who completes this challenge will be entered into a prize-draw for afternoon tea for two!
In celebration of the University’s Diamond Jubilee, Canterbury Christ Church Creatives are inviting groups from within the University community to help create Happy to Chat spaces across the campus network. The idea is that a sign on a seating area indicates that those who sit there are happy to chat to those who wish to stop and talk.
The vision for the Happy to Chat project at CCCU is that it will not only create outdoor and indoor spaces inviting people in the University community to speak to and interact with others, but that these areas will also be decorative – brightening our campuses and bringing joy to those who see them. To find out more or to get to view the Happy to Chat spaces available contact canterburychristchurchcreative@gmail.com