A huge festival supporting and celebrating mental health and wellbeing is set to begin.

The second Bridport Mind Fest will get underway today, with two films, five celebrity events and 30 workshops organised by volunteers to coincide with World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, October 10.

As mental health is being more openly discussed, the festival aims to help those who are vulnerable.

For members of the farming community, organisers have arranged for The Farming Community to highlight the work done by a combination of farming organisations and mental health professionals to improve the delivery of mental wellbeing to the farming community, families and friends.

After Prince Harry put the difficulties faced by the forces, veterans and their families in the national spotlight, organisers have arranged for an opportunity to focus on the help available to them from the NHS in Dorset, with a talk and discussion to take place on Monday.

Mental health in the workplace is a key issue being covered, with stress, bullying and other stimulants proving to be damaging to mental health and business.

Dr Jonty Heaversedge, who appeared on BBC's Street Doctors, will lead a workshop on Saturday afternoon and a larger meeting in the evening cover this topic.

On Tuesday, 'Making Work Work', an NHS workshop will take place.

The festival is celebrating children's mental health, and on Sunday a children's day has been planned.

Another focus will be on young people becoming an adult, with information on helping with the pressures of leaving school and becoming an adult.

Pupils at the Sir John Colfox Academy will be taking part in two workshops, one with rapper Dizraeli and the other with Rob Gee, with both due to give other performances during the week.

Groups within Bridport are getting involved in the week's events.

Clive Whalley, Bridport Runner coach and mental health ambassador of the club, will be giving an introduction into running as a tool of gaining and sustaining mental health at Bucky Doo Square on Saturday, October 6 from 11.45am.

A free session will then take place at St Mary's Playing Fields from midday where runners can exercise and run round the wellbeing loop, a 2.5 kilometre course.

Clive said: "This is aimed at people who may be completely new to running or to people who want to learn about the mental health benefits of taking part in regular exercise."

Bridport Film Society is hosting a screening of the film, 'Island' on Tuesday, October 9 at Bridport Arts Centre.

TheHorseCourse, which has helped more than 500 people improve their mental health since 2010, will also be offering a workshop.

The workshop will take place at the United Church Hall by founder Harriet Laurie on Wednesday, October 10 from 2pm until 4pm, and will cover how the charity uses highly trained horses and facilitators to teach eight core skills, from calmness to assertiveness.

Harriet said: "It's a fun interactive workshop to learn how to recognise emotional states by reading body language.

"The workshop is free although voluntary donations are welcome."

All events are ticketed by free to attend, and can be purchased at Bridport Tourist Information Centre or by calling 01308 424901.

For more information, you can visit bridportmindfest.org

Here is a list of the events taking place as part of the festival:

Friday, October 5:

Bridport Town Hall:

  • Bel Mooney- Words to Help You Through from 7.30pm

Bridport Youth and community Centre:

  • Harmony Art Workshop with Caroline Gamble from 10.30am until 2pm
  • Oops Wow for Grown Ups! led by Jo Burlington from 10am until midday
  • Dizraeli from 7.30pm

The King Street School:

  • Farming Community Network presentation and discussion led by Nick Viney from 2pm until 4pm

St Mary's Church:

  • St Mary's Garden Group led by Jane Trower from 2pm until 4pm

Friends Meeting House:

  • Creative Writing for Wellbeing led by Sarah Cooper from 2.15pm until 4pm

United Church Hall:

  • Laughter and Yoga Workshop led by Denise Hodgson from 2pm until 4pm

Saturday, October 6:

Bucky Doo Square/Bridport Arts Centre: 

  • From 10am until 2pm, various organisations will be showcasing the five ways to mental wellbeing, connect, be active, keep learning, be mindful, and give to others
  • Rangoli Folk Art on the arts centre forecourt (or an alternative venue if wet) from 10am until 2pm

Bridport Town Hall:

  • Dr Jonty Heaversedge in Conservsation from 7.30pm

Chapel in the Garden

  • Try Yoga in the White Room from 10am until 4pm

King Street School:

  • Feather and Ink art workshop from 10.30am until 12.30pm
  • The Five Steps to Mental Wellbeing from 2.30pm until 4.30pm

United Church Hall:

  • Mental Health and Stress in the Workplace from 2pm until 4pm

Friends Meeting House:

  • Creative Writing from 2.15pm until 4pm

Moore than Tea:

  • Journeys in Poetry from 3pm until 5pm

West Bay Car Park:

  • The West Bay Eype Walk from 3pm

Sunday, October 7:

Bridport Arts Centre:

  • The Young People's Day (also taking place weather permitting on the Millennium Green) from 10am until 2.30pm
  • The Lion King screning from 3pm
  • Danny Sumbler and Will Ferris in concert from 7pm

The Chapel in the Garden:

  • Mental Wellbeing Service from 11am

Mountfield:

  • Song Writing Workshop from 2pm until 4pm

Monday, October 8:

Mountfield:

  • It's Not Just a Case of Saying Goodbye from 12.30pm until 2.30pm

United Church Hall:

  • The Goldilocks Approach from 1pm until 2pm
  • Introduction to Mindfulness from 5.20pm until 6.45pm

Tuesday, October 9:

King Street School:

  • Treat Your Sleep from 11am until 12.30pm
  • Dementia Friends from 1pm until 2pm
  • Reach Drug and Alcohol Services from 5.30pm until 7pm

Bridport Arts Centre:

  • Restless from 11am until 4pm
  • Island - film screening from 7.30pm

Mountfield:

  • Making Work Work from 12.30pm until 2pm
  • What is CBT? from 2.15pm until 4pm
  • Child & Adolescent Mental Health from 5.30pm until 7pm

Bridport Primary School:

  • Approaches to Child Mentla Health from 1.30pm until 2.30pm

United Church Hall:

  • "The Shed" from 5.15pm until 7pm

Wednesday, October 10:

Bridport Arts Centre:

  • Rob Gee from 7.30pm

Chapel in the Garden:

  • Daily Dose of Happiness from 10.30am until 12.30pm

King Street School:

  • Mental Health First Aid Taster from 1.15pm until 2pm

United Church Hall:

  • Non Verbal Tool Box from 2pm until 4pm