A free festival of music, sport and fun is set to take place in the centre of Derby next month to raise awareness of mental health and the support that is available.
Organised by Derby mental health organisation HeadHigh, the event, called ‘Fundamental’, is being held on September 4 in Cathedral Green, where a stage will be set up for live performances alongside sporting activities and stalls run by local organisations.
The event is the brainchild of HeadHigh founder and Derby North MP Amanda Solloway, who first ran the event in 2019 to help reduce the stigma and raise awareness around mental health and encourage people to reach out and seek help if they need it.
Amanda launched HeadHigh in 2017, inspired by her own experience of growing up and her mother’s own battles with mental illness.
Amanda’s cousin took his own life aged just 36 and following his death she decided to set up the organisation to help others struggling with their mental health and signposting them to organisations that can support them.
It now runs a monthly community meal event at the YMCA in London Road, a monthly Supper Club and weekly Chat Club at St Martins, as well as the annual Fundamental event. The organisation also offers free talks to schools and is currently planning to open a new city centre night time service.
Amanda said: “Anybody can struggle with their mental health at any point in their lives and we have all seen how the recent lockdown, with the loneliness, isolation and economic hardship that it brought, has had a devastating effect on people’s happiness and wellbeing.
“I know all too well from my own experience how mental illness affects the lives of everybody it touches, which is why I am determined, along with the rest of the team at HeadHigh, to encourage anybody who needs support by breaking down the taboo and shame associated with mental health.
“That’s why, after such a difficult few months for everyone, it would be wonderful to see as many people from across Derby as possible coming along to Cathedral Green to enjoy themselves on September 4.”
The event runs from 11am to 4pm and any organisation interested in running a stall in order to promote what they do – and offer some form of interactive activity – get in touch with HeadHigh via info@headhigh.org.uk or via their Facebook page at ‘HeadHigh Official’.
