Dementia Action & Mental Health Awareness Week this May

This year, Dementia Action Week and Mental Health Awareness Week run jointly between 13th - 19th May. We're here to help you support you and your loved ones with tons of events and resources that you can access at Inspire year-round.

Pink and yellow floral brain with the wording Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

The focus of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week is movement - one of the most important things we can do to help protect our mental health is looking after ourselves physically. Our bodies and our minds are connected and movement is a great way to enhance our wellbeing. 

Even a short burst of 10 minutes’ brisk walking can boost our mood and increase our mental alertness and energy. Movement helps us feel better about our bodies and improve self-esteem. It can also help reduce stress and anxiety and help us to sleep better.

If you’d like to get moving more, we've got some some ideas to help get you started! Our learning team have useful courses from Reiki and mindfulness to yoga and fitness classes. Inspire's libraries and eResources catalogues also have an excellent selection of books and magazines all about health, just visit our Reading Well collection. 

You can find more resources on the Mental Health Foundation's Website and tips on how you can boost your mental health by moving more.

A group of three images: An illustration of a person and a brain, A woman sits and stretches her arms, an illustration of an elderly person sits next to a brain

Library membership is free to everyone! Start your journey with us and gain access to all of Inspire's free services and resources. Sign up to membership here

Wellbeing Bags are small collections of books, items and activities which aim to encourage adult customers to practice self-care and promote good mental health.

They can be borrowed from libraries free of charge for six weeks at a time to adults with an Inspire library card. There are 10 different bags each containing a book, some mindfulness cards, a CD, an activity, a stress ball and a collection of leaflets providing health information and advice

Find out more

Reading Well helps you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using recommended books available from your library. The books provide information and advice for people with various physical and mental health conditions, their family, friends and carers. 

Find out more

Our memory lane bags are a fantastic way to remember through time capsules. They can offer comfort, spark memories and start conversations. 

Find out more.

Dementia Action Week 2024

Alzheimer's society banner with logo and blue forget me not flower

This year's Alzheimer's Society Dementia Action Week campaign brings the UK together to take action on improving dementia diagnosis rates. 

Alzheimer's Society is asking you to share your or a loved one's dementia diagnosis story with them, so they can show decision-makers across the UK the challenges that people face when it comes to getting a diagnosis. Share your story and help take action on dementia. 

Inspire offers events and resources for those with memory problems including dementia. Our dementia friendly screenings offer the chance to see an array of movies from the classics to new favourites. We make a safe and fun environment for family and friends to join, giving you the chance to talk, dance and move around! 

Get involved in this year's Inspire Knitting Challenge! This year we're working in partnership with Dementia Action Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (DANN) to help support people in care and hospital settings. 

Join us at one of our upcoming Songs and Scones events! Live Music Now’s Songs & Scones programme brings people together to regularly engage with live music and connect with others over a cup of tea, a scone and uplifting live performances. The events are particularly suitable for older people – including those living with dementia and their carers. 

Health, physical activities and support for people with Dementia at your fingertips