This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on stress and how we’re coping with it – and there are lots of resources available in North Herts and South Cambs to help those needing support.

As part of the week, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group – which covers Royston as well as South Cambs – is highlighting and promoting services available to anyone experiencing stress.

These resources include www.keep-your-head.com – which is full of local and reliable information on mental health and wellbeing for children, young people and adults, and the Psychological Wellbeing Service, which you can call 0300 300 0055 or self-refer online at www.cpft.nhs.uk/services/pws/psychological-wellbeing-service.

You can also call NHS 111 in a mental health crisis.

Dr Emma Tiffin, GP and mental health lead, said: “Whatever the cause of stress in your life, it’s important that you tackle it and don’t leave it hoping that it’ll resolve itself.

“There’s lots of help available in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to anyone experiencing stress and finding that it’s getting in the way of enjoying life.

If you’re not sure where to begin then please look at our mental health website or ask your GP team who can help you take a step in the right direction.”

The Hertfordshire Partnership University Foundation Trust is also supporting Mental Health Awareness Week with a variety of talks and workshops are taking place at Stevenage Wellbeing Centre tomorrow – along with the chance to try Laughter Yoga and other activities.

HPFT’s chief executive Tom Cahill said: “Most of us are juggling extremely busy lives and it’s vital to make time to look after our mental health. These free events are really useful as they provide the tools to recognise the signs and cope with stress.”

Hertfordshire County Council’s director of public health, Jim McManus, said: “We all know what it’s like to feel stressed as it is part of everyday life. But when we get overwhelmed by stress it can become difficult to manage and even affect our mental health.

“This week organisations across the county are taking the opportunity to open up conversations about stress and help our residents develop healthy coping strategies.”

The Stevenage event is organised by Spot the Signs along with Mind in Mid Herts. Find out more at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mhaw18-stevenage-in-mind-event-tickets-44402331569.