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This summer has already brought spells of intense heat, with\u00a0amber heat-health alerts issued across the\u00a0south\u00a0west.\u00a0Extreme heat\u00a0takes a\u00a0toll on our bodies and our mental health \u2013 disrupting sleep, making everyday tasks feel harder and leaving us feeling anxious, irritable or on edge.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n At the same time, the summer months also bring their own kind of pressure: the sense that we should be out enjoying the longer days, seeing people, trying something new. That pressure to make the most of summer<\/em> can feel even further out of reach when the heat itself is a source of stress, particularly if your confidence has dipped or social situations already feel harder than they used to.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s worth giving your mental wellbeing a place in your summer plans. Whether planning days out, activities or you would simply like to spend time enjoying other people\u2019s company, taking care of your mental health is part of making those things possible.<\/p>\n And you don\u2019t have to do that alone.<\/p>\n Across the South West, our Wellbeing Colleges are open all year round, including right through the summer. While many services slow down at this time of year, our Colleges keep going, offering free courses and workshops designed to help people improve and maintain their mental health. Every session is developed with people who have lived experience, so the support is practical, grounded and shaped by those who truly understand what it\u2019s like to struggle, and what it takes to move forward.<\/p>\n Courses cover everything from managing anxiety and building confidence to improving sleep and more. They\u2019re designed to meet you where you are, with no pressure to be at a particular stage in your journey. You can learn at your own pace, connect with others and grow in ways that feel right for you.<\/p>\n Just as importantly, the Colleges offer connection. Learning alongside others in a welcoming, supportive space can help reduce isolation and remind us that we\u2019re not alone. Many people tell us that attending a workshop is the first step towards feeling able to try other things again, like joining a group, volunteering, returning to work or simply feeling more comfortable getting out and about.<\/p>\n Recently, staff from all our Colleges came together for a wellbeing day of their own \u2013 a chance to pause, share ideas and practise what we encourage others to do. Our new video captures that day beautifully, showing the care, energy and community that sit at the heart of every college.<\/p>\n \nSupport that doesn\u2019t stop for summer<\/h4>\n
A space to connect<\/h4>\n