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Free mental health awareness training for anyone supporting refugees from Ukraine

Across the West Kent community, many people are welcoming individuals and families fleeing the war in Ukraine into their homes, offering a welcoming, safe and secure sanctuary. Undoubtedly for some arriving in the UK, the upheaval and emotional distress caused by the devastating situation in their homeland will have a significant impact on their mental health.

It is so important to be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental ill health, to be able to have supportive conversations and to be able to signpost to further specialist mental health support. Local mental health charity West Kent Mind has received funding from national Mind, to offer 10 free mental health awareness workshops for anyone supporting Ukrainian refugees in the Sevenoaks, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells districts.

This includes hosts, sponsors, those who volunteer or work for public sector or voluntary organisations involved in the support effort, and community representatives from churches, schools and social activity clubs/groups.

The three-hour awareness raising session will cover

  • Mental health, mental ill health, and wellbeing
  • The facts of trauma
  • Language, stigma and discrimination
  • Stress and other triggers
  • Supportive conversations
  • Signposting to further support
  • Looking after your own wellbeing

The free workshops will be run online and also at venues in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge between 24 May – 8 July.

Anyone looking for further information or to book a place should visit westkentmind.org.uk/ukraine

West Kent Mind Training Manager Ceri Hodgkiss said,

Thanks to funding from Mind’s Ukraine Crisis Response Fund, we are delighted to be able to offer these free workshops to those supporting refugees in our West Kent community. The workshops will equip people with tools and strategies to give them the confidence to support someone struggling with their mental health, and to guide them towards further support. We will also focus on the wellbeing of the host families.”