Stockport residents are set for a week-long programme of events and activities aimed at improving mental health.

Arts for Recovery in the Community (Arc) will be hosting Stockport Arts and Health Week from 6-12 October, providing opportunities for individuals, schools, colleges, families and businesses to try out some creative activities that could potentially improve mental wellbeing.

Among the events taking place across the borough are free creative workshops for all ages, photography walks, and drawing workshops.

As well as this, there will also be a number of ageing and Alzheimer's talks and exhibitions that have been developed to help everyone in the community to get creative to boost their wellbeing.

Find more information on the programme of events here.

The programme is being powered by a £32,000 grant to Arc from the UK Government, following the submission of a comprehensive funding bid.

Jacqui Wood, CEO of Arts for Recovery in the Community (Arc) (Image supplied)

Mental health challenges are rising sharply in Stockport, with diagnoses of anxiety, depression, and serious mental illness increasing significantly in recent years.

Adults with serious mental illness face much higher rates of premature death, particularly from liver, respiratory, and heart diseases.

Mental health problems in young people have also escalated, with nearly One in five affected by 2022 and lower wellbeing than peers in nearby areas.

Jacqui Wood, Arc's CEO, said: "We are very grateful for the new funding. Hundreds of people have attended events, visited exhibitions, taken part in networks and engaged with us in our centre in Stockport at our other events, but this year, we want to open out the invitation to everyone to do something creative to look after their wellbeing – this will include free web-based activities and top tips for getting creative as well as a programme of activities at Arc.

"Our online activities in particular will allow us to reach people across Greater Manchester and beyond."

One Stockport resident who will be joining the photography walk this year is 64-year-old Amir Marvi. He joined Arc's photography course after having lost his wife to terminal cancer and struggling with isolation following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amir found that photography helped him deal with isolation and grief (Image supplied)

Initially he felt lost and found it difficult to engage in social activities, but Arc provided a compassionate and non-judgmental space that became a sanctuary for him.

"The calming atmosphere helped me feel comfortable during my therapeutic art and photography classes, giving me something to look forward to each week", Amir said.

"The photography course became a turning point for me as it reignited my passion in photography eventually providing a fulfilling hobby that brought joy back into my life. Through photography, I was able to express myself creatively and rebuild my self-esteem by producing work I was proud of and reframe my experience of loss and loneliness.

"Participating in Arc's photography course significantly improved my wellbeing, offering not only a creative outlet but also a sense of community and support that had been missing from my life and I'd encourage anyone wanting to improve their mental health to join this year's events and look into how simple activities including taking photos outside in nature can help improve your mood."

To find out more information, please visit www.artsandhealthweek.co.uk and keep up with social media using the dedicated hashtag #ArtsAndHealthWeek2025 across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Arc is one of the UK's longest standing and most respected arts and mental health charities. Based next to the Hat Museum and operating across Greater Manchester, Arc creates life-changing opportunities for people to be creative, connect with each other and learn new skills – the organisation has 30 years' experience helping thousands of people across the North West and beyond. 

For people struggling with mental health, Stockport offers a multitude of local services which can be found here and for people requiring urgent support, call 111 and select the mental health option or reach the Samaritans at 116 123 for 24/7 confidential support.

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