THE role religion and spirituality plays in treating mental health problems will be explored at a forum in Dorchester next Saturday.

The day-long forum will feature talks from mental health sufferers and their carers and include group discussions.

In the afternoon mental health professionals, priests and devout Christians will discuss the spiritual resources available to people plus there will be opportunities for prayer and worship.

Mental health services representative for the Dorset Mental Health Forum, Richard Peacocke, said: "I'm not really religious at all. What we're trying to do is to explore the whole network of support rather than focus on one thing.

"There was a similar forum run elsewhere in the Diocese of Salisbury and I thought it was a really good idea so we went about setting one up here in Dorchester. I also wanted to make sure it wasn't going to be one of those things where people are looking for vulnerable people to join their religious group."

Mr Peacocke teamed up with Jenny Bagnell, an Anglican lay reader at St Martin's Church in Broadmayne, the Rev Geoff Turnock of the Dorchester parishes and retired priest John Foskett to get things started.

The day will include a talk by Paul Billen, a religious minister and nursing assistant at the Forston mental health clinic, and Mr Foskett, and will look at the spiritual resources available in mental health services.

This will be followed by a talk delivered by Jenny Bagnell and the Rev Geoff Turnock discussing what churches have to offer.

Mr Peacocke said: "This will be an ecumenical meeting of minds to explore the spiritual side of mental health care. It's something I like the idea of because there's very little in the area going on to do with that. ."

The forum will run from 10am to 4pm at the United Church in South Street and costs £3 to attend.

For information call Mr Peacocke on 01305 257172 or email richard.peacocke@btinternet.com Alternatively, visit www.dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk The day has been organised by the Anglican Dorchester Deanery Healing Group and is supported by the Dorset Mental Health Forum alongside Churches Together in Dorchester.