THE community is being encouraged to beat the stigma in a week of activities to boost wellbeing for World Mental Health Day.

Mental health charity Andover Mind is hosting events such as “singing for fun” and a needle felting workshop for free to mark the awareness day on October 10.

The organisation’s furniture recycling project Ugly Duckling will be hosting an open day on Saturday, October 13 and a Walk the Test Way event for the charity is taking place Sunday, October 14.

Andover Mind chief executive Debra Ramchurn said: “Mental ill-health affects one in four people at some time in their life and there is still a lot of stigma attached to it.

“We can help break down that stigma locally through activities which enable the local community to talk and find out about mental health.

“We want to encourage as many people as possible to join in whether they have a mental health problem or are just interested in maintaining their mental well-being.”

For a full list of activities visit andovermind.org.uk or call 01264 332297.