Saturday 10 October marks World Mental Health Day. 2020 has certainly been a tough year for most and many have suffered challenges in managing their mental health due to the year’s unavoidable events.

This year Leicestershire mental health charity, Lamp, have spoken to people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and asked them if you were to give a message for World Mental Health Day, what would it be and who would it be to?

Here are some of the messages received so far:

Never be afraid to speak up, try and make sure you have a close circle of people you feel comfortable opening up to. It’s not weak to speak” Callum Parkinson Professional Cricketer at Leicestershire Foxes

Time is precious, spend as much time as you can with those you are close to, support each other and really listen” Lamp Mental Health Advocate

A mighty oak tree can still crash to the ground but a reed, although flattened, will pop back up again after the storm has passed. Try and maintain the faith that you can get up again”. Lamp Mental Health Advocate

“Whenever I have had something on my mind it has always helped to talk it through with somebody, maybe to gain a different perspective or to calm me down or to help work through a problem. Don’t bottle it up, share your concern and allow someone to help you work it through”. Jamie Long, Lloyds Banking

“Everyone has mental health and I hope you know that both you and it matter. As your Gran I would always hope that you: Be kind to yourself, make time for yourself and be as kind to others on their mental health journey as you wish they would be to you”. Sue Langley, Lamp CEO

“My message would be to myself and it would be to listen to Baz Luhrmann – Everybody’s Free To Wear Sunscreen whenever I feel overwhelmed as it never fails to make me smile”. Abi, Marketing and Communications Officer at Lamp

If you have a message to share that you’d like to share this World Mental Health Day you can send it to Lamp via @lampleicester on Instagram and @lampadvocacy on Twitter and find them on Facebook & LinkedIn by searching Lamp Charity.