SIMMONS Park in Okehampton was bathed in glorious sunshine for a ?Picnic in the park?.
The event, held by mental health charity Rethink, took place on Tuesday, June 24.
In Okehampton, Rethink runs a day centre service providing a number of activities in order to build confidence and raise self-esteem for people with severe mental illness.
Rethink provides a ?supporting people? programme, a government initiative, which exists to help people in the community.
Alongside this, the group aims to develop an outreach project.
The aim of the picnic event was to break down the barriers and gain more understanding about the issues regularly faced by those suffering from mental illnesses.
The event was well-attended and provided an opportunity to talk to members of the public. Among those coming along to support Rethink and the work it does, were Christine Marsh, Mayor of Okehampton and Sue Bizley, co-ordinator of the Volunteer Bureaux.
The theme of the picnic in the park was ?representation?.
People with mental health problems are poorly represented in the labour market and face fear, stigma and prejudice in all walks of life.
The event was part of ?Rethink Week? being held to raise awareness of the charity and the work it does.
Rethink is the largest mental health charity and largest voluntary sector service provider in mental health in the UK.
The group aims to improve the lives of everyone affected by schizophrenia and other forms of long-term mental illness.