Let’s Get Talking – Brew Monday

Let’s Get Talking – Brew Monday

The Samaritans are currently encouraging us all to get together and reach out to those we know as a good conversation helps to make us feel better and manage the ups and downs of life.

As they say particularly when it’s cold and grey outside, getting people together to connect over a warming cuppa does make a real difference and banishes those Winter blues

So why not arrange a Brew Monday event during January or February (or any other day that is good for you) or simply invite a friend for a cuppa and a chat.

This is also great reminder to us of the importance of talking and supports the recent ITV campaign Britain Get Talking which has highlighted how Talking and Listening can build mental wellness.

Please see a story below from one the people we support in North West and how talking helped them change their life.

Changing My Life

In June I was very low in mood and expressed to staff I was low and needed extra support, my staff would use any free time to sit with me and talk but I had little motivation to go out and I was isolating myself.

However, one night I was feeling really low and in a dark moment I even thought about should I take my own life. Fortunately, a staff member intervened without knowing at the right time to talk me through this.

Staff contacted emergency services and I was admitted to hospital and we were supported by the mental health team and staff and I felt I was getting help. It was agreed that I could have additional support hours to concentrate on my emotional needs and be able to go out in the community 1:1 and find things to do.

Those dark moments had really worried me but I felt that I could change things around. I used my support to visit places I had always wanted to see such as Liverpool to see the docks and museums, Bolton, Blackpool, Manchester, my favourite By Gone Times and my mood began to lift. Slowly I started to feel that my mood was lifting and I started to think towards the future.

My team worked at a pace that suited me and encouraged me to apply for various voluntary positions. I was knocked back time and time again but we didn’t give up as I saw how much my mood increased when I was doing things I enjoyed.

I told my staff I wanted to go on holiday specially to achieve my dream to go on a plane abroad.

I was also told about a farm looking for individuals who wanted to get involved in farming, animals, cooking and learning new skills. I said I was interested and only went and got a voluntary position. My staff have helped me to learn my bus routes and I am now going without staff as my confidence has improved which means I am making my own friendships and can use my support hours for other things.

I am currently saving to go on my dream holiday to New York, my life has changed through talking, telling people how I am feeling and making small steps to change my lifestyle.