A yellow bench – aimed at combating mental health issues – has been installed at the Retreat train station.
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The bench forms part of a broader initiative called the Kind Heart Bench project. ‘What we want to create is a safe space where you can have a conversation with someone and know that there are support structures,’ says Bradley Bailey, the founder of the Kind Heart Bench project. ‘If it saves just one life, then it is successful.’
As reported by News24, the bench at the station in Retreat is one of eight that will be implemented across the City. Each bench will have 24/7 toll-free numbers listed on it for those seeking professional advice, such as the number for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). It serves as a visual aid for people to communicate, sit and take deep breaths or relax.
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The initiative is a collaboration between Metrorail Western Cape, Safer Spaces, Western Cape on Wellness (WOW), Hope House Counselling Centre and the SADAG. Fatima Seedat, development manager at SADAG, says mental health is not spoken about enough.
‘SADAG welcomes this initiative as the more conversations we create about mental health, the more people reach out for help, we can create hope and save many lives. Society and the commuting environment can serve as that support, the backrest, and armrest promoting inclusiveness, love and kindness, shifting perceptions and fostering optimism, through cooperation and engagement, that things can and will improve.’
Metrorail Western Cape says the Retreat station is one of the areas that could really add value as a ‘safe space’.
‘One of the identified spots for this exercise is the Retreat Station on the southern line, as it is one of our tourist routes. The bench will also serve as a safe space for those who need help thereby interacting in a comfortable area. The project’s main message is that society and commuters can serve as a support, a backrest and an armrest for people who are depressed and need someone to talk to. The kind heart bench initiative aims to shift people’s perceptions about mental health and fosters optimism.’
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Picture: Metrorail Western Cape / Facebook