02 Aug 2023
Stacey Turner, founder of mental health care and wellbeing charity It’s OK To Say, reveals her latest initiative.
It’s wonderful to see how we are becoming more and more known as a mental health care and wellbeing charity offering counselling, workshops and support groups for people of all ages. Our work extends in nurseries, schools, colleges and universities. We also offer support to the police and the military.
Our counselling is available face to face and online. We have a huge network of professionals based nationwide, so there is so much scope to provide the support people need.
On a daily basis, we are faced with food crisis anxiety, therefore we have set up the Food Rescue Hub under our umbrella of services. The Hub will provide employment, volunteer opportunities, counselling support for those who are at risk of or facing food insecurity and an educational program addressing nutrition, food and mental health, managing anxiety tools, saving money on grocery bills and making the best of everyday foods.
By understanding anxiety better, you can take steps to manage and reduce symptoms and improve your overall wellbeing. Helpful strategies and coping mechanisms can make a huge difference in managing anxiety.
A free booklet will be available from The Hub to include topics and tips from the educational program as well as recipes from well known chefs and local cooks.
Food insecurity is defined as ‘the inability to consume an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or the uncertainty of one being able to do so.’
The Hub will also provide food support packages by partnering with Fareshare and other organisations to provide much needed support and highlight that it is OK and how important it is to work together to promote wellness for our community.
We understand there is an estimated 10.3% of residents in Hertfordshire at highest risk of food insecurity. There can be isolation and loneliness due to this, which the hub can help support.
The Hub will begin in September, however the free booklet won’t be ready until November. We will do our best to speed this up, however we don’t want to compromise on quality, so please bear with us. You can register your email to receive notification of the booklet by emailing us.
It’s OK To Say takes a holistic approach in all our actions and The Hub will play a vital role in supporting essential needs. There is no health without mental health, addressing health inequalities is so important so people thrive and not just survive! When there are hungry tummies and anxiety surrounding food insecurity then this can create even further issues. We want to tackle this by providing comprehensive support. The Hub is a lovely extension of our services and we look forward to being able to help, as demand is increasing due to the growning cost of living.
Remember, it is important to take care of your whole health. Please don’t be afraid to reach out to a mental health professional. Together, we can make a difference.
To register your interest in The Hub’s food booklet or to enquire about counselling, workshops or support groups, please email support@itsoktosay.org.uk
