A KINVER wellbeing teacher organised another village walkabout this year to help lift people’s spirits on the most depressing day of the year.

Elizabeth Foster, a mindfulness wellbeing coach at Bamboo Mindfulness Wellbeing, has spent the past five years raising awareness of the importance of good mental health.

She said: “I have worked with numerous children, young people and adults providing healthy support tools to improve their wellbeing.

“Following the pandemic, the mental health of humanity has fallen into crisis - where over 700,000 people around the world each year sadly take their own life.”

In January 2022 she decided to organise a community wellbeing walk to bring people together and put a focus on mental health.

She said: “This took place on the third Monday of January, because studies suggest this is the most depressing day of the year - they call it Blue Monday.”

The event proved a success so Elizabeth decided to do it again – inviting villagers of all ages to turn out for a wellbeing walk to blow away the cobwebs on Monday January 16.

She said: “Most people struggle with their mental and emotional resilience during January, so I felt the urge to do the event again.

“This year a group of grownups, children and furry buddies took to the streets of Kinver.”

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Elizabeth, a former jet-setting club DJ and model, said the event was an opportunity to promote the benefits of exercise, being in nature, meeting new friends and chatting openly and it “brought a positive impact to everyone who took part”.

Councillor Victoria Wilson and parish councillor Sion Charles-Worth Jones joined in the walk which Elizabeth now hopes will become an annual event.

She added: “Maybe other towns can do the same? Together we can shine light and spread a strong message to others about the importance of mental education.”