Look Out For Guildford Buildings Lit Up Purple On Monday

Published on: 9 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 10 Oct, 2016

Monday, October 10, is World Mental Health Day, and to show their support, along with many other prestigious buildings worldwide, some of Guildford’s landmarks will ‘Light Up Purple’.

The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre already lit up.

World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy.

Making a vibrant effort to highlight the importance of mental health and wellness, Guildford Castle, Tunsgate, the Guildhall and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre will all turn ‘purple’.

The aim is to show solidarity in destigmatising issues around mental illness and support the legacy of Amanda Todd (a Canadian who took her own life at the age of 15) by promoting discussions surrounding mental health, digital safety, cyberbullying and exploitation.

Carol Todd, the founder of the Amanda Todd Legacy Society, said: “The awareness related to bullying and mental health is a worldwide campaign that is never-ending but also needs more people and organisations to help with advocating and facilitating discussions.

“There are many people, both young and old, who are suffering the effects of depression and other effects of mental health. It’s time we were more open in our conversations and we need to decrease the potential for tragic stories.”

The first WMHD was held in 1992, at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organisation with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.

Each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness event to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on people’s lives worldwide, and the need to provide more information on mental wellness.