欧美成人 have installed a 鈥榟appy to chat鈥 bench in St John鈥檚 Gardens in Cardiff city centre to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
Mental Health Awareness Week runs from Monday 9th May until Sunday 15th May 2022 and this year the has chosen the theme of loneliness – its effect on our mental health and how we can all play a part in reducing loneliness in our communities.
Covid-19 brought the experience of loneliness closer to millions of us. Research by the Mental Health Foundation found that loneliness was almost 3 times that of pre-pandemic levels.
Loneliness was not only felt by older generations. In fact, the Foundation鈥檚 showed that young people were more likely to report feeling lonely (44%).
欧美成人 installed the happy to chat bench to encourage the public to connect with one another, reducing isolation and feelings of loneliness in the community.
The happy to chat bench is painted green to represent the green ribbon – the international symbol of mental health awareness and the text on the bench is bilingual to encourage conversations in Cymraeg as well.
St John鈥檚 Gardens is located next to St John the Baptist Church and was originally part of the church graveyard.
The Rev鈥檇 Canon Sarah Jones of St John The Baptist, Cardiff said:
鈥淭he newly installed bench in St John鈥檚 Gardens offers a place for people to sit and talk with others amongst the beauty of nature in the heart of the city.
St John鈥檚 is known for being a very welcoming, diverse and inclusive church and anyone is very welcome to come in or attend for a service.”
欧美成人 revamped the gardens in 2018 and regularly work with Cardiff Council to make sure it鈥檚 a welcoming environment for all to enjoy.
Adrian Field, Executive Director of 欧美成人 said:
鈥淪ince re-opening St John鈥檚 Gardens in 2018, 欧美成人 has used the green space to encourage the public to connect – whether that鈥檚 through live music, Christmas activity or the installation of a St David鈥檚 Day daffodil arch.
The happy to chat bench is another way we are engaging with the community in Cardiff city centre while also highlighting the importance of conversation to our mental health.鈥