Suffolk Mind joins #SuffolkSaysThanks initiative to help improve mental health as research shows two-fifths of people in Suffolk feel unappreciated

Independent mental health charity, Suffolk Mind have joined forces with other charities, along with the NHS and local councils to encourage the people of Suffolk to say thank you to each other for the small things in life.

The #SuffolkSaysThanks initiative is a community campaign launched as part of a wider project to support the mental health of the Suffolk community.

The new Suffolk Says Thanks website provides some fun, simple ways to enable every Suffolk resident to express their gratitude to other people in their lives. It includes posters, social media graphics and letter templates to recognise the brilliant work that family, friends, neighbours, postal workers, local delivery drivers, teachers and refuse collectors do for the community.

Jon Neal, CEO of Suffolk Mind said: “In our research carried out to rate how well the community of Suffolk is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that 43% of people are not meeting their emotional need for status. This means they don’t feel valued or appreciated for the contribution they are making to the world.

“Status is important for good mental health, and so we wanted to join the #SuffolkSaysThanks campaign to encourage people to recognise the small acts of kindness in their lives – however large or small.

“Why not write a letter to a friend just to check their ok and to thank them for being there for you in the past? Or create a poster for your kids to thank them for not falling out with each other today. Or create a social media post to thank your local school for staying in touch so well during lock down.

“This campaign is all about thanking those who don’t often get thanked.”