A NEW campaign to promote ways of improving mental health has been commissioned by North Yorkshire County Council.

The project is being developed in response to an audit of suicides in North Yorkshire between 2010 and 2014, which looked at demographics, including the groups of people most affected and likely social factors contributing to mental ill health.

The development of the campaign has also been prompted by needs identified in the council's Joint Strategy Needs Assessment and North Yorkshire’s joint mental health strategy Hope, Control, Choice, which tackles likely causes of mental ill health in North Yorkshire and identifies groups most affected.

As a result, the council has commissioned a campaign designed to prevent or manage mental ill health and stop suicide.

The campaign will be delivered by social marketing firm, Ice Creates, who will look at existing national data and new information from talking to people about mental health issues that matter to them.

They will then develop a campaign to promote mental health techniques, including Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect; Be Active; Take Notice; Keep Learning; Give.

Councillor Caroline Dickinson, executive member for public health, said: “This new campaign contributes to the delivery of the council’s mental health strategy, Hope, Control and Choice.

"The campaign will encourage the residents of North Yorkshire to think about their own mental wellbeing and take better care of their health, using tried and tested practical techniques.’’

Jayne Prendergast, director of ICE Creates, said: “We are excited to be developing this innovative campaign in North Yorkshire.

"Working with the county council, we aim to help residents to improve their mental wellbeing with targeted and effective messages.

"Projects like this play an important part in helping to increase awareness of how to look after your own mental health.”

The county council is also a "Mindful Employer", making a voluntary commitment to show that the organisation is working to promote mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and to recruit and support individuals who may have mental health issues or have suffered discrimination in the past.