Perth and Kinross Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival returns to the Fair City this weekend

Perth and Kinross Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival returns to the Fair City this weekend to help those struggling to find or access support.Local charity Trauma Healing Together’s free event takes place at Perth Concert Hall on August 19 and 20.Now in its third year, this year’s theme is ‘Mental Health for All: Promoting Inclusivity and Connection’ offering a packed programme of activities, talks and workshops.Visitors can explore everything from mindful photography, arts and crafts, a silent disco and all-ability fitness to art journalling, while also tapping into support with autism and trauma.In an effort to boost inclusion and accessibility, attendees are also being offered free transport to and from the event.It was made possible after festival organisers managed to secure £5500 - £3000 from charity Paths for All and £2500 from Stagecoach - providing 500 free East Scotland DayRider tickets (usually £11 per day).The ticket will allow passengers from anywhere in the East Scotland zone, covering Perth and Kinross, Dundee and Angus, Fife, Edinburgh and Glasgow.Roxanne Kerr, CEO of Trauma Healing Together and festival founder, said: “When shaping the content for this year’s festival, we were driven by inclusion and accessibility.“Too often, we hear that people living in rural communities really struggle to access support for their mental health and wellbeing for a whole host of reasons, including transport and cost.“Similarly, and especially during this cost of living crisis, many people living in towns and cities simply cannot afford to buy a bus, train ticket or drive to a festival.“We are therefore absolutely thrilled to have secured this funding which will essentially remove any obstacles which might have