A SERIES of public events exploring mental illness through storytelling and connection will take place in Jersey next week.
‘Human to Human’, hosted by local charity Focus on Mental Illness, will centre around a three-day visit from Canon Conor — a respected community leader and mental health advocate who lives with bipolar disorder and speaks openly about his experiences of suicidal thoughts and the tragic loss of three close family members to suicide.
He will headline the week’s programme with a free public talk, Light in the Dark: A Conversation on Mental Illness, Hope, and Recovery, on Monday.
Canon Conor – whose visit has been made possible thanks to sponsorship from the Ommaroo Hotel – will also help launch Jersey’s new Bipolar Support Group and take part in a recorded conversation for the charity’s growing archive of mental health stories.
Other highlights include an open day introducing Change Minds, a new mental illness and heritage project in partnership with Jersey Heritage.
“We wanted to create a space for honest conversation that highlights the strength, wisdom, complexity, and humanity of people living with mental illness,” said a spokesperson for Focus on Mental Illness.
“Canon Conor’s visit and our Human to Human week activities reflect this, offering the community both powerful personal stories and new opportunities for connection and support.”
Canon Conor will be speaking at 6.30pm on Monday 23 June at the Salvation Army, St Helier. Tickets are free but must be booked via Eventbrite.
