THOUSANDS of people in Southampton are being urged to make their voices heard and stand up against the stigma surrounding mental health problems.

Health chiefs are joining forces at two major events taking place this weekend as part of a city-wide campaign to raise awareness of mental health and stamp out stigma.

Mental health campaigners and professionals will be setting up stalls at Southampton parkrun today and on the route of mass cycle Sky Ride during a stretch of the ride through the city centre tomorrow.

Southampton City Council has teamed up with national charity Time to Change – spearheaded by mental health charities Mind and and Rethink Mental Illness – as a climax of three weeks of activity to promote good mental health and wellbeing.

And they hope to spread the word among thousands of people taking part in the events.

Time to Change runners will be out in force at parkrun where hundreds of people will tackle a 5km route at 9am starting and finishing at the Hawthorns Cafe.

The charity will set up its Time to Change Pop-up village in Palmerston Park from 11am-3pm when more than 11,000 riders are expected to pass on the Sky Ride.

Solent NHS Health Trainers will be offering advice on mental health and busting common myths about the subject.

Steps to Wellbeing will be holding free relaxation and mindfulness sessions, while Sammy the Saint and the Saints Foundation will be armed with an inflatable football and highlighting how keeping active can boost physical and mental health.

Representatives from the Headstart group will be promoting their project to help children develop and emotional resilience to combat worry and anxiety.

Southampton Ukulele Jam will perform and organisations Solent Mind, Healthwatch and the local NHS will also be offering advice.

Mental health problems are common – but nearly nine out of ten people who experience them say they face stigma and discrimination as a result.

Council cabinet member for children’s social care, Councillor Paul Lewzey, said: “This event is part of a sustained campaign and our partners to combat mental health discrimination in all its forms.

“Stigma can be a very serious issue for people suffering with mental health problems.”

Angela Etherington, South East Community equalities co-ordinator at Time To Change, said she is “thrilled” at the partnership. and said: “Having the Time to Change village in a relaxed public space with activities, music and people passing by provides an opportunity to chat, find information and most importantly remind ourselves that mental health is part of our everyday lives.”