A PROGRAMME of events to raise awareness of mental health issues was unveiled in north Durham on Monday.

The event coincided with World Mental Health Day and 30 workers attended a discussion and training session at the Healthy Living Centre, in Dipton.

Derwentside, Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trusts have organised workshops over the next few weeks to challenge the stigma associated with mental health.

Derwentside trust's health promotion specialist, Shaun Beattie, said: "The aim is to offer support, information and advice to workers and to raise awareness of things they can do to improve the quality of young people's lives, to look at strategies which can assist in building up self esteem and increase young people's resilience to problems.

"It also provides an opportunity for staff from the statutory and voluntary sector, who work with young people, to get together to share ideas and discuss good practice in promoting the emotional well-being of young people."

Lynne Teasdale, community health development worker in the Stanley Green Corridor, is working with South Stanley School of Technology, Derwentside Mind, NHS mental health services and Beaconsfield Project to raise awareness of emotional health and well being with young people aged 14 to 15.

In Derwentside, health promotion worker Jaime Battye is setting up a "chill out zone to promote good mental health" at SureStart Stanley every Friday, starting this week, from 9am to noon. There will be a creche.

On October 19, the Durham and Chester-le-Street trust will be presented with a Health at Work Award at its annual conference in Durham.