At Southside Shopping Centre next week
Southside Shopping Centre is hosting a wellbeing event on Wednesday 23 November where Samaritans and other local organisations will be offering tips on how to look after your mental health. Volunteers will also be raising awareness of the support available when life feels tough and you need some extra help.
The initiative, which runs from 10am to 6pm, has the backing of Wandsworth Council and will see Samaritans’ volunteers lending a listening ear from their ‘We Listen’ campaign trailer outside Costa Coffee on the High Street. Wandsworth Carers’ Centre, Healthwatch Wandsworth, Wandsworth Community Drug & Alcohol Services and Wandsworth Foodbank will all also be setting up stall in and around Southside to offer help and advice.
Joy Hordern, Director of Samaritans’ South West London branch based Putney, said, “Life can be tough, and anyone can feel overwhelmed. We’re looking forward to chatting to shoppers and letting them know that anyone can contact Samaritans for free and in total confidence. People talk to us about a whole range of issues, from family, relationships and bereavement to work, health and financial issues. We’re here to listen and support, no matter what you’re dealing with. We’re grateful to Wandsworth Council and everyone involved for helping us to spread the word about the support services available to everyone in the Borough."
Wandsworth Council’s health spokesman is Councillor Jim Maddan. He said, “Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 50 years of age in Britain and we’re working hard to reduce the number of people who take their own lives. Many people find it hard to talk about feelings of despair or hopelessness, or don’t know how to seek help for conditions like depression. We hope this event will be a first step for anyone who may be struggling but who does not know where to turn.”
Anyone can contact Samaritans. Whatever they ’re going through. Call for free any time from any phone on 116 123 (this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill), email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.
November 16, 2016