The Dolphin Centre in Poole is partnering with Dorset Mind for Mental Health Awareness Week (9-15th May) to offer a range of guidance and support to the Poole community.

The Dolphin Centre will be providing a confidential and safe space where visitors can receive guidance and signposting on mental health issues from Dorset Mind Active Monitoring practitioners. The Mental Health Awareness Week Support Booth will be open from 12pm-2pm on Wednesday 11th May and 10am-3pm on Saturday 14th May, and will be located within the Dolphin Centre’s plaza, outside Beales.

John Grinnell, Centre Manager at the Dolphin Centre, said: “Together with Dorset Mind, we are reaching out to our local community to offer free mental health support to our visitors. As loneliness is the theme of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we hope we can work towards bridging this gap to make our visitors feel less alone with the resources available in our support booth.”

Linda O’Sullivan, Dorset Mind CEO, added: “Connection to our friends, family and colleagues is essential to protect our mental health. Support available to our local community from the third sector and charities such as Dorset Mind can also play an important role. The last few years have been extremely difficult and isolating, but you really don’t have to feel alone. There is help available from people and organisations that want to help.

“Our volunteers will be on hand to book visitors in with our Active Monitoring practitioners for the support booth sessions. Do come and talk to us for guidance on how we can help you maintain your mental health with our wide range of support services for young people and adults across Dorset.”

Dorset Mind ambassador, Calvin Glen, will also host a Music and Mindfulness workshop from 10am-3pm on Saturday, May 14, at the Eco Hub on the first floor of the Dolphin Centre.

Dorset Mind charity has supported Dorset’s mental health for 75 years. They educate, challenge mental health stigma and inequality; and encourage recovery by empowering people to develop resilience.

They offer 1-2-1 and group services including befriending, counselling, wellbeing support groups, mentoring, and educational wellbeing programmes for schools and workplaces.

For those looking to support the mental health services provided by the Dorset-based charity, there will be donation points stationed throughout the Dolphin Centre.

For latest information, please visit www.dolphinshoppingcentre.co.uk or follow the activity on Instagram at @dorsetmind and @thedolphinpoole .