A HUGE festival supporting and celebrating mental health and wellbeing is set to begin.

The second Bridport Mind Fest will get underway today, with two films, five celebrity events and 30 workshops organised by volunteers to coincide with World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, October 10.

As mental health is being more openly discussed, the festival aims to help those who are vulnerable.

For members of the farming community, organisers have arranged for The Farming Community to highlight the work done by a combination of farming organisations and mental health professionals to improve the delivery of mental wellbeing to the farming community, families and friends.

After Prince Harry put the difficulties faced by the forces, veterans and their families in the national spotlight, organisers have arranged for an opportunity to focus on the help available to them from the NHS in Dorset, with a talk and discussion to take place on Monday.

Mental health in the workplace is a key issue being covered, with stress, bullying and other stimulants proving to be damaging to mental health and business.

Dr Jonty Heaversedge, who appeared on BBC's Street Doctors, will lead a workshop on Saturday afternoon and a larger meeting in the evening cover this topic.

On Tuesday, 'Making Work Work', an NHS workshop will take place.

The festival is celebrating children's mental health, and on Sunday a children's day has been planned.

Another focus will be on young people becoming an adult, with information on helping with the pressures of leaving school and becoming an adult.

Pupils at the Sir John Colfox Academy will be taking part in two workshops, one with rapper Dizraeli and the other with Rob Gee, with both due to give other performances during the week.

Groups within Bridport are getting involved in the week's events.

Clive Whalley, Bridport Runner coach and mental health ambassador of the club, will be giving an introduction into running as a tool of gaining and sustaining mental health at Bucky Doo Square on Saturday, October 6 from 11.45am.

A free session will then take place at St Mary's Playing Fields from midday where runners can exercise and run round the wellbeing loop, a 2.5 kilometre course.

Clive said: "This is aimed at people who may be completely new to running or to people who want to learn about the mental health benefits of taking part in regular exercise."

Bridport Film Society is hosting a screening of the film, 'Island' on Tuesday, October 9 at Bridport Arts Centre.

TheHorseCourse, which has helped more than 500 people improve their mental health since 2010, will also be offering a workshop.

The workshop will take place at the United Church Hall by founder Harriet Laurie on Wednesday, October 10 from 2pm until 4pm, and will cover how the charity uses highly trained horses and facilitators to teach eight core skills, from calmness to assertiveness.

Harriet said: "It's a fun interactive workshop to learn how to recognise emotional states by reading body language.

"The workshop is free although voluntary donations are welcome."

All events are ticketed by free to attend, and can be purchased at Bridport Tourist Information Centre or by calling 01308 424901.

For more information, you can visit bridportmindfest.org