INTU Merry Hill has joined forces with Dudley and Walsall Mental Health NHS Trust to help shoppers with mental health problems.

A range of mental wellbeing workshops will take place today (Tuesday May 14) including one-to-one drop-in counselling sessions, referrals to support services and free career advice for those living with mental health conditions.

The day is part of the centre's support of Mental Health Awareness Week.

The one-to-one sessions are being run by Dudley Talking Therapies, an organisation which works with people who are experiencing common mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, low mood or phobias.

Naomi Campbell, Community Development Manager at intu Merry Hill, said: “Mental Health Awareness Week is a hugely important initiative. It is estimated that nationally, 1 in 6 people in the past week experienced a common mental health issue and we want to provide a space for shoppers to talk openly and provide advice on ways to seek support.

“There can be a stigma attached to talking about mental health but it’s a topic that needs to be more widely recognised and discussed. We hope that by hosting this event, we can increase the community’s understanding of mental health, as well as offer support to our employees and shoppers.”

The sessions will take place between 10am and 3pm on the lower mall next to the Customer Service desk.