This week Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service will be supporting Mental Health Awareness Week which runs from May 15 to 21.

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week is focusing on anxiety, a common feeling that can sometimes get out of control.

Across the UK, people are encouraged to get involved by sharing their experiences using the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety.

As part of the campaign, the Mental Health Foundation will be publishing guidance on how to manage and improve feelings of anxiety and prevent them from developing into a more serious mental health problem.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service will be supporting the week by challenging staff to walk, jog or run in our ‘How far can you go’ challenge, and want to encourage everyone in the Service to get involved with some physical activity throughout the week.

The service will also be asking members of staff to ‘Wear green on Wednesday’, on May 17, to raise funds for The Fire Fighters Charity.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Craig Flannery said: “Dealing with anxiety can be hard to face alone, as a Service we aim to tackle the stigma around talking about our mental health and encourage our employees to speak up, so we can provide as much help and support as possible. Connecting people and asking them to get involved in gentle exercise is just one way we aim to achieve this.”

Alexa Charnley, Director of Fundraising and Communications at the Mental Health Foundation, said: “We all experience anxiety but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.

“However, there are things we can do to manage feelings of anxiety and stop them becoming overwhelming.

“For example, breathing exercises, physical activity, speaking to a trusted friend, or keeping a diary. You can find more information and guidance on our website mentalhealth.org.uk

“This Mental Health Awareness Week we’re encouraging everyone to get involved by sharing their experiences of anxiety and the things that help with the hashtag #ToHelpMyAnxiety.

“We hope people all over the UK will take part and help us to normalise conversations about anxiety and mental health.

“We hope the week helps people to feel more confident in talking about anxiety and how it affects them. Most importantly, we hope people understand more about what they can do to manage anxiety and what other support is available.”

For more information about this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week visit: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw