Talking and Chalking… About Mental Health

by Matt Young

Let’s Chalk About Mental Health is an annual event held in Exeter’s Princesshay, where members of the public are encouraged to chalk on the ground, writing positive mental health messages. The day coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week, with this year’s theme being community - something we feel very strongly about here at CoLab.

The event is designed to highlight the importance of talking, sharing, and listening to others. This year’s event featured an array of partners who all offer support and guidance, form connections, and inspire creativity and positivity. Altogether, it celebrated the power and importance of community.

In more recent years, the day has centred around a mural created by a professional artist. Members of the public are then invited to participate by helping colour it in and adding to the artwork.

CoLab’s Involvement

In my role at CoLab (I’m the Community Mental Health Lead for Partnerships) I felt like this was an ideal opportunity not only to be involved, but also to use the event as a chance to engage with people locally and better understand their needs around what can be a tricky topic to discuss - their own mental health.

The Event

Held on Thursday 15th May, we were blessed with warm weather and a wide variety of organisations in attendance. On the day, people were encouraged to get involved in a range of activities, including exercise sessions (proven to increase endorphins and lift your mood), juggling, crafting, live music and a host of other fun activities. The music proved especially popular, with a crowd gathering around the stage and singing along, creating a wonderful atmosphere and drawing attention to the event.

Various organisations were present, creating opportunities to connect, have meaningful conversations, and explore potential collaborations—another fantastic example of true community.

How It All Started

In Exeter, the Let's Chalk About Mental Health campaign has captured the hearts and minds of the whole community since it began in 2019.

As part of CoLab’s presence on the day, I placed a notebook on the picnic benches in Bedford Square (where the event was held), inviting people to share their thoughts about mental health and the community we have here in Exeter.

Some of the entries shared memories of loved ones, offered words of support to others, and even suggested ideas for managing your mental health - truly inspiring contributions from passers-by.

It’s great that events like this take place, but we mustn’t forget that mental health isn’t just about awareness weeks, it’s something we should be aware of all the time. Maintaining good mental health is now a vital part of everyday life.