A COLLEGE championed World Mental Health Day – to help students.

Bury College staff used the day to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and tools required to tackle mental health issues.

The college hosted its very own awareness event and welcomed representatives from the Samaritans, Healthy Minds, Pennine Trust Early Intervention Service and Bury Involvement Group.

These services offered advice and guidance to students and provided more information about their services.

Students were also encouraged to participate in a range of activities, which included self-help materials, and mindfulness activities.

Tea, coffee and a selection of cakes were provided with all money raised being donated to a local mental health organisation.

Beth Fisher, a facilitator for the Dual Recovery Group at Bury Involvement Group (BIG), was one of the services to attend the event.

Beth said: “BIG is a unique organisation which is run by the service users. We are at the event to speak to students and offer advice to young individuals.”

Antoinette Smith, as Assistant Psychological Well-Being Practitioner at Healthy Minds Pennine Care, also held a stand at the event.

Antoinette said: “We have come along today to offer talking therapies to young people and make them aware of the many services that are available to support them.”

Adele Clayton, a Counsellor at Bury College said of the activities which took place at Bury College: “Two of the key aims of our service are to raise awareness of mental health and encourage students to take responsibility for managing any difficulties they may have.

“The information and activities on offer today present them with different options to do this and is a chance for informal conversations around mental health.”