New mental health support benches installed across Devon communities

New mental health support benches are being installed in communities across Devon, to help make it easier for people to find information and support when they need it.

To mark World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10th October, Devon County Council is highlighting the new initiative, developed by its Public Health team in partnership with the charity SAFE South West.

The specially designed benches are being installed in community locations across Devon, providing a place to pause as well as discreet and easy access to information about mental health and wellbeing support.

Made from recycled plastic, each bench has the message "Come Sit With Us" engraved along the back, and features a plaque signposting people to a range of support.

The plaques direct people to the Devon Support Bench online hub, where they can find links to organisations offering help and information.

Contact details for Samaritans and crisis support by text message are also displayed.

The aim is to give people different ways to reach out for help depending on what feels right for them, whether that is talking to somebody, sending a text message, reading a story of hope, or finding advice about supporting someone else.

Six of the specially designed benches have been installed so far, with plaques also added to eight existing community benches. A further three support benches are planned.

This year's World Mental Health Day theme is "Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change", with a focus on ensuring people's experiences help shape mental health policy, services and practice.

Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband, said the council wants people across Devon to know that support is available "and that they don't have to face difficult times alone".

"These benches offer a simple and visible way of bringing information about mental health and wellbeing support into the heart of our communities," Cllr Cottle-Hunkin said.

"That's particularly important in rural and coastal communities. By making this information available in familiar community spaces, we hope more people will feel able to find the support that's right for them," she said.

The idea originated with a firefighter in North Devon, who approached SAFE South West to help develop the concept.

Initially focused on providing support and signposting in specific locations, the idea has since broadened to include a wider range of community spaces, including quieter places where people can sit and reflect.

Adam Johnson, Operational Readiness Manager at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said the idea originally came from seeing a "buddy bench" in a school playground.

"It was such a simple idea, somewhere a child could sit if they were feeling lonely or needed someone to talk to, and it got me thinking about whether we could do something similar in our communities," Mr Johnson said.

"As a firefighter, I've attended incidents involving people who have reached a point of crisis. We're there to help when someone gets to that point, but I wanted to think about what we could do before then," he said.

"For me, it's always been as much about community as the bench itself. Sometimes looking out for someone can simply mean noticing them, asking if they're OK and being prepared to have a conversation," Mr Johnson said.

Steve Smith, of SAFE South West, said the project has strong support and input from mental health and wellbeing leads across Somerset, Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, Cornwall and North Somerset, as well as councillors, the Samaritans, and Experts by Experience volunteering with Open Mental Health.

The council's Public Health team is also working with organisations and communities to make the same information available on existing benches and public noticeboards across Devon.

Benches and plaques have already been installed in a number of places, including Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Barnstaple and Bideford.

Signposting plaques can be provided at no cost, and community organisations interested in displaying one are encouraged to contact the council's Public Health suicide prevention leads to discuss the options available.

If you, or someone you know is suffering with their mental health, or experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can speak to your GP. If someone's life is in danger - call 999 immediately.

You can also find help and advice from these services:

Hub of Hope - https://hubofhope.co.uk

Samaritans – Call 116123 - https://www.samaritans.org

Mind - 0300 123 3393 - https://www.mind.org.uk