Mental health project Talking FreELY host Third pop up café in Ely on 3rd March 2018

Local mental health project Talking FreELY is holding its third pop up café at the Ely Cathedral Conference centre on the 3rd of March from 9.30am to 1.00pm.

Talking FreELY is for everyone, encouraging people talk about their mental health. The group believes that the more people from all walks of life talk about mental health, the better. Whether you consider yourself to have mental health issues or want to learn more about wellbeing, everyone is welcome to the event.

The third event follows the success of the first two events held at Ely Cathedral Conference centre. The last event was held in November and over 85 people came along to talk freely about mental health. Everyone who came and completed an evaluation form enjoyed the event. When we asked them what they had enjoyed, one visitor told us ‘Everything, the speakers were interesting, informative and inspiring!’ another said ‘Everything was very welcoming, helpful and informative, the event was very well organised.’

The third café will feature an information zone, guest speakers, chillout zone, hot drinks and cake. Trained talking volunteers will be available for a chat in the pop-up café area. The event is free to attend.

There will be three guest speakers. Hope Virgo, mental health campaigner and the author of Stand Tall Little Girl, will share her mental health journey and speak about the biggest challenge of her life – dealing with clinical anorexia. Carly Mason, a freelance business developer and the Director of Operations for Talking FreELY, will share her recent experience of digital detox and the effect it had on her wellbeing. Hannah Turner, a Joint Head of Services (Sanctuary, Wellbeing, Support2Recovery) at Mind CPSL, will talk about First Response Service (FRS). FRS puts mental health first providing 24-hour access, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to mental health care, advice and support.

Also planned at the pop up café is the presentation of an award to the winner of the photography competition with the theme “Blue”, which was announced on January 15, or Blue Monday, considered to be the most depressing day of the year. The winner’s work will be featured in the Babylon Art Gallery summer exhibition. The competition is open until 18th February 2018, entries should be submitted to enquiries@talkingfreely.org  and full terms can be found on the Talking FreELY website https://talkingfreely.org/2018/01/15/photography-competition/