New park benches being installed across Belfast are to help people with their mental health by connecting them to online help.
The 16 distinctive blue ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing’ seats feature a QR code to allow people to access the Public Health Agency’s (PHA) Minding Your Head website.
One of the first benches to be installed is located at Dunville Park in West Belfast, an area which has historically seen high levels of suicide.
Read more: Suicide survivor helping Newry-based group to improve mental wellness
Vincent McElkerney, from the Falls Residents Association, welcomed the move.
“The Residents Association are delighted to be involved in this initiative to support our community’s emotional health and wellbeing, a key factor included in a collective partnership across the Falls area," he said.
"This will be a continuation of our previous work including the Garden of Reflection and the many fantastic murals in our community.
“The bench is bright and immediately catches your eye. More importantly however the QR code on the bench provides invaluable information for emotional health and wellbeing and other support services.”
Danny Power from the West Belfast Partnership Board ’s Health Forum added that the bench would provide an invaluable resource for the local community.
He said: “Providing information on available mental health support services and building resilience is a key part of a collective West Belfast approach focused on building a people-centred and community approach to maintaining good positive health across our communities and supporting local residents when it is most needed."
Visiting the park to view the bench, Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Tina Black said that she hopes the benches encourage people to look after their mental wellbeing.
"I am delighted to take a seat on this newly installed bench here in Dunville Park," she said.
"The bench is bright, it caught my eye and is a fantastic new asset for visitors to the park as a reminder for them to ‘Take 5’ and become aware of not only their physical health, but their mental and emotional wellbeing too.
“In Belfast, we are so lucky to have an abundance of green spaces and, with 16 of these benches planned for parks across the city, it is another way of connecting communities following the pandemic and focusing in on what is important.
“I would encourage everyone to check in on themselves, do what the bench says and just take 5 and remember that support is there if you need it.”
The Take 5 Steps are Connect, Be Active, Take notice, Keep Learning and Give.
Frances Dowds, Health Improvement Manager at the PHA said: “Access to information on the services and support that exist across our communities is extremely important. We are fortunate that Belfast has a wide range of health and social wellbeing supports available.
“The Public Health Agency is delighted to partner with the council on this initiative and we encourage people using the benches to scan and use the QR codes.
"This will take them to the Take 5 Steps to wellbeing, as well as information on the wide range of support services available across the city that can help people on their emotional wellbeing journey.”
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