A series of films and performances portraying mental health issues will be shown in Croydon to mark this year’s World Mental Health Day.

Three films will be screened together on Wednesday 10 October at 2.30pm and 6.30pm at the David Lean cinema.

On Saturday 13 October, two live stage performances will take place at 1 Matthews Yard, Croydon CR0 1FF at 3pm and 7pm.

Ekanem Hines, a former social worker with over thirty years’ experience working in mental health, said: “I would like to thank Croydon Council for providing these free platforms for us to showcase such important issues to people in the borough.

“These films and the stage performance depict honest and thought-provoking accounts of what it is like to experience mental health issues in today’s society.

“They aim to touch the audience emotionally and physically by shining a spotlight on mental health issues from the perspective of service users and carers.”

The David Lean cinema screenings include the highly acclaimed film, ‘So You Think I’m Crazy?’. The film uses rap, poetry, dance and music to take audiences on a journey from London’s streets to a secure wing of a psychiatric unit, from the perspective of a young service user.

WIT H IN is a short film conveying the inner turmoil faced by people with mental health issues. It is performed by Crowns and Owls, a London-based filmmaking and photography collective.

Perinatal Positivity is a short-animated film using the voices of actual parents who have experienced mental wellbeing difficulties around the time of pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting.

The films are directly followed by a question and answer discussion in the David Lean bar with representatives from Croydon Council, NHS Croydon CCG and Ekanem Hines, writer and director of So You Think I’m Crazy?. They will explore the stigma of mental health and the challenges of accessing services and care.

Two live stage performances of So You Think I’m Crazy, performed by the Know My Mind Theatre Company, will take place at Matthews Yard on Saturday 13 October.

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising efforts in support of mental health.