Moray Wellbeing Hub launches monthly 'Bee Well' café sessions at Moray Sports Centre as part of Suicide Prevention Week
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PEOPLE in Moray in need of a listening ear are being invited along to Moray Sports Centre sessions in a programme launched today as part of Suicide Prevention Week.
Moray Wellbeing Hub will run the monthly "Bee Well" drop-in sessions, which are open to anyone who would like a chat and a cuppa with the project's champions.
The sessions will be held at Calum’s Kitchen café, within the Elgin sports centre.
Café owner Calum Main offered up the space, with the sessions taking place on the first Monday of each month, from 9.30-11.30am.
The aim is to provide a safe space for Moray residents to meet up for connection, sharing and wellbeing support.
As well as tackling isolation and stigma associated with mental health challenges, the sessions will explore issues such as how suicide prevention in Moray could be improved, the key points of which may be shared with local decision-makers.
Moray Wellbeing Hub director Heidi Tweedie said: "It's brilliant that Calum got in touch with us and is so passionate about helping people. We're hoping that we can eventually connect with other such cafés right across Moray and help other places to hold these kind of sessions as well.
"Our hope is that we'll carry on these sessions indefinitely. We'll keep trying to find ways to bring people together and connect, chat and support each other. That's our raison d'être.
"What we hope people will get from them is that sense of having someone to talk to and a place to feel less lonely or isolated. There are also people out there who really want to make a difference and it's a good chance to meet others who are passionate and get inspired and involved in making a difference in their community."
Moray Wellbeing Hub is just one of the local mental health partners to step up activity this Suicide Prevention Week as members of the Moray Making Recovery Real partnership, which includes Health & Social Care Moray and many other local organisations.
National charity SAMH is running free events in the north-east such as an online event for local workplaces.
A local app is available to support anyone concerned about their own challenging thoughts, or who needs help to support someone they care about. The app, which can be downloaded from www.preventsuicideapp.com, has links including how to create a safe plan.
Meanwhile, an online survey has been organised to gather people's ideas on suicide prevention in Moray. For more information visit www.moraywellbeinghub.org.uk.
