PUPILS have been creating art to raise awareness of mental health issues.
The pupils from Wigton’s St Cuthbert’s school worked to create the art which has subsequently been displayed at the Co-op in Wigton.
The idea came from Emma Budsworth, member pioneer for Wigton and Dalston Coops, to promote Mental Health Awareness week, which took place from Monday, May 9 and Sunday, May 15.
Mental Health Awareness Week comes around every year, starting on May 9.
Its purpose is to raise awareness of mental health issues, which can be a broad range, and the resources available to those who may need help or need to help others.
Each year has a theme on which to focus, this year's theme is loneliness.
The Mental Health Foundation, a charity that supports the week and started it, has written on their website explaining the reason behind focusing on that theme: "One in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time.
"There’s no single cause and there’s no one solution.
"After all, we’re all different!
"But, the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems.
"Some people are also at higher risk of feeling lonely than others.
"For Mental Health Awareness Week this year, we're raising awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental health and the practical steps we can take to address it."
Emma explained: “My role as member pioneer is to work in the Wigton and Dalston communities.
READ MORE: Art telling people's stories displayed at community campus
“For this project, I reached out to various schools and St Cuthbert’s came back.
“Working with the school, this was all about having a quiet time painting together.
“I was surprised at how many paintings I got.
“The idea was to help promote the week, particularly for younger people and young children and put the paintings in the Co-op.
“The Co-op is really big on community and everyone likes a kid’s painting.
“I get to choose what I support and I chose to do this as I have had my own mental health struggles.
“It is important that the community talks about it.
“I had my issues from when I was really young, so targeting t at younger children is very important.”
There are 45 paintings displayed, by the 45 pupils that took part.
A spokesperson from St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School said: “The children really enjoyed doing it.
“The children are really proud of their work, it’s just a really nice thing to do for their community and for Mental Health Awareness Week.”
READ MORE: Groups across the county are promoting Mental Health Awareness Week
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