Credit: Hernán Piñera.

In the run up to World Mental Health Day on Saturday, Hackney will host a number of free events this weekend aimed at improving residents’ mental health and wellbeing.

Funded by City and Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and delivered by voluntary and community sector organisations and Hackney Council, 5 to Thrive week aims to show that regularly incorporating five ways – being active, giving, connecting, taking notice and engaging in learning – into daily life can support mental health.

Todays activities will include a ‘Hackney Celebrities Walk’, where residents will hear about famous names from the area while walking from Hackney Empire to Stoke Newington.

Other activities will include a computer class and meditation session both for the over 50’s and a Brazilian dance class.

Rhiannon England, clinical lead for mental health at City and Hackney CCG, said: “5 to Thrive is about really simple things that anyone can do to help keep themselves happy and healthy.”

“In a world where we are increasingly juggling lots of things, it can be easy to neglect mental health. Stress is a massive factor for a lot of people and I hope that 5 to Thrive week will demonstrate how everyone can tackle that by making small changes.”

Ishtar Love-Chowdhury, programme manager for mental health at City and Hackney CCG, told EastLondonLines: “We have had a group running for the last six months who have contributed to this weeks events and will be involved in taking the campaign forward into next year.”

“We hope to inspire everyone in the community to think about managing their own emotional health and well being, as well as inspire their neighbours and friends too.”