Meditation at Highland library to mark Mental Health Awareness Week
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Movement-led meditation will take place at an Inverness library today as it launches a new community project to promote wellbeing.
Culloden Mind Hub will be a weekly community cafe with a focus on reducing loneliness and isolation.
Activities will range from board games, jigsaws and simple crafts to gentle movement-based sessions and games for all ages.
It is being launched at High Life Highland’s Culloden Library in support of Mental Health Awareness Week.
Guests at the launch include representatives from Highland Mindfulness Group, who will lead a movement-based meditation, as well as AlAnon and Highland mental health charity, Mikeysline.
High Life Highland’s Network Librarian, Michelle Gowans said it had been made possible with support from the Public Library Improvement Fund and Highland Council’s ward discretionary fund.
"Culloden Mind Hub is a weekly community cafe with a focus on reducing loneliness and isolation and providing community-based learning activities at no charge, designed to ensure wellness, lifelong-learning and mental stimulation," she said.
"It will be a welcoming, intergenerational space for connection, learning and personal development – all of which are particularly in demand by communities as post-covid recovery continues, and the cost-of-living crisis puts pressure on household finances."
Guest presenters will also be planned for future sessions, selected according to community interest.
Digital literacy will be a regular focus of future sessions and will provide an opportunity for young people to volunteer to help others in building their digital skills.
"Culloden Mind Hub will offer a much-needed opportunity to foster emotional and physical wellbeing within the local community and improve overall mental health," said Ms Gowans.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems.
In its recent mental health survey carried out about stress, anxiety and hopelessness over personal finances, a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time, and as many as six in ten adults feel anxious at least some of the time.
Members of the public are invited to attend today’s launch of the Culloden Mind Hub when refreshments will also be served.
