Crowe movie helps highlight mental health issues
Released: 17 September 2007
Russell Crowe’s portrayal of a man with schizophrenia will help Wolverhampton City Council and Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust highlight World Mental Health Day next month.
A wide-ranging programme of events is being held at Wolverhampton's Light House Media Centre for members of the public, carers and service providers to find out more information about mental health and general well being.
The city’s marking of World Mental Health Day on Wednesday October 10 will culminate in a showing of the Russell Crowe movie A Beautiful Mind - a biopic of John Forbes Nash Jr, the maths prodigy who overcame the effects of schizophrenia to win the Nobel Prize.
The Light House will be the focus of the day’s activities. There will be information stands, displays by local support groups, short films and poetry readings in the small studio cinema along with art displays and even relaxation therapy. More than 20 organisations will be in attendance.
Meanwhile, staff from the city council’s Croft Resource Centre will be hosting an event at Bilston Library. Centre users have worked with Wolverhampton College to investigate the history of Bilston and Wolverhampton and will be displaying their work and receiving certificates for their efforts during the event. It runs from 10am-noon.
And awareness will also be raised among football fans after Wolverhampton Wanderers allowed organisers to display their World Mental Health Day message at home matches this Saturday (September 22) and again on October 6.
Other events planned include a display of art at Central Library by members of Hear Our Voice while the African Caribbean Community Initiative will also be hosting a series of activities.
Gurdip Chima, joint commissioning officer for mental health services in Wolverhampton, said: “World Mental Health Day is an international campaign run by the World Health Organisation, designed to challenge stigma and promote social inclusion for people who experience mental ill health.
“This year we want to recognise and promote the work of the various groups and organisations in Wolverhampton providing services and support for mental health service users and their carers.”
For more information, contact Liz Phillips, participation officer at Wolverhampton City Council, on 01902 555344.
Issued by the press office.