FREE stress-busting courses are on offer.

MyWellbeing College – which is open to anyone aged over 16 registered with a GP in Bradford, Wharfedale, Airedale or Craven – is staging the sessions.

It is promoting the six-week courses as part of its backing for Mental Health Awareness Week, which begins on Monday (May 14).

According to the Mental Health Foundation – which organises the annual awareness week – 16 million people experience a mental health problem every year, and stress is a key factor.

Participants at the sessions learn how to spot the signs of stress and ways of managing the symptoms.

Contributory factors are outlined.

Relaxation exercises, tips and techniques to try at home are covered, and there is a meditation taster.

Among those who have benefited from the courses is Gemma Pywell, who from the age of 11 had felt anxious and shy in social settings.

During her teenage years she suffered from low mood, anxiety and feelings of loneliness.

Now in her early 20s, she is a confident dental nurse and credits the course with helping her transform her life.

"I've always been quite a shy and anxious person and it developed through my teens to low mood and feeling lonely," she said.

"I was offered a variety of options including phone advice, one-to-one help or group courses.

"I chose to go for the group course because I'd had one-to-one counselling before and thought this time why not be a bit more daring, so I decided to step out of my comfort zone a little bit.

"I surprised myself by speaking out in front of the group, which was good.

"I definitely feel the experience and the course helped me build my confidence.

"Everyone was really welcoming and it was a good way to learn new methods to manage anxiety and stress."

Gayle Porter, clinical manager at MyWellbeing College, says stress can affect anyone at different points during life.

She added: "Recognising the signs and symptoms, by attending one of the many stress-control courses run locally, can help people to manage it more effectively."

For more details and to register on a course, visit bmywellbeingcollege.nhs.uk or call 0300 555 5551.

During the awareness week, as part of its wider work with employers across the district, MyWellbeing College is also running stress-busting sessions for staff at Yorkshire Building Society's main office in Bradford.

And in the run-up to the campaign, Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust – one of several organisations involved in delivering the MyWellbeing College service – hosted a 'depression in older adults' event.

A free talk was given yesterday (May 9) by older people's consultant Dr Anil Pillai, who outlined issues including the causes of depression, how it manifests itself, its impact on daily life and the risks associated with the illness.

The event was held at the trust headquarters in Saltaire.