Empty shop provides home for mental health support services
During Mental Health Awareness Week an empty Chesterfield shop is being transformed into a mental health pop-up shop.
The shop, in the Pavements Arcade shopping centre in Chesterfield, will host a variety of mental health organisations between 13 May and 19 May.
Derbyshire County Council, Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “Good mental health is vital for us all. “We want to work towards creating an environment where mental health becomes everyone’s business. “That involves empowering local people and organisations to be able to positively impact their own, and other peoples, mental health.”The county council is working in partnership with a variety of local organisations and individuals to run the week long pop-up shop.
This includes Chesterfield man Jason Cotton who founded the Men+Talk group that offers confidential mental health support to men in the local area.
Jason said: “Creating a safe and trusted, non-clinical environment is important. Creating a connection that’s open, honest and confidential is key to Mental Health success. We don’t just sit and listen, We Get Men to Talk.”
People are encouraged to drop in and have a chat with staff, get advice and find out more about the mental health support services on offer locally and nationally.
Cllr Hart added: “Being able to talk about how we are feeling is an important step in the right direction. “We would encourage people to come along and find out more about the support that is on offer.”
The organisations taking part in the mental health pop-up shop include:
- Derbyshire County Council
- Chesterfield Borough Council
- The Live Life Better Derbyshire healthy lifestyles team
- Chesterfield Football Club Community Trust
- Derbyshire Voluntary Action
- Cruse
- Samaritans
- First Steps
- Co-op Funeral care
The pop-up shop will open each day 9am and 4pm between Monday 13 May and Friday 19 May 2019.
