‘Breathing space’ bench project welcomed by Lerwick community councillors
MEMBERS of Lerwick Community Council have welcomed a mental health initiative which offers people a place to “take some breathing space”.
Shetland is soon to be the only health board in Scotland without a ‘Breathing Space’ bench, a community space which encourages folk to take a second to sit, listen and talk if needed.
NHS Shetland health improvement team leader Nicola Balfour wrote to Lerwick Community Council in her capacity as suicide prevention lead to ask if they would consider helping to secure a local bench.
At a meeting of Lerwick Community Council on Monday evening, a number of members highlighted the importance of mental health.
Lerwick community councillor Amanda Hawick said she thought the bench project was a “fantastic idea”.
She said a bench might not just be used by locals but by visitors to Shetland too.
“There’s a lot of people suffering in the world today and I don’t think there’s just enough that folk do to try and tackle that, so I would welcome as many of these as we could possibly get,” Hawick said.
“Mental health can hit anybody, at anytime, anywhere, and it’s also another great thing for removing stigma that’s quite rife on this island.”
Lerwick North and Bressay community councillor Stephen Leask said he felt the bench project was a “great thing”.
“I can’t see how anyone could be against something like this,” he added.
Community council chairman Jim Anderson said mental health was a “very real issue”.
Some questions were raised about any bench’s maintenance, and the material which would be used – with some concern over how particular kinds of metal would fare in the elements.
A question was also raised around whether ‘breathing space’ plaques could be applied to existing benches.
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However the letter to community council said the project aims to ensure benches are all constructed to the same standard with a “cohesive look”.
Each bench would cost around £1,500 and come with a production time of around six weeks.
Anderson resolved that the community council seeks more information on the project.
For anyone needing urgent support for their mental or emotional health, the NHS 24 Mental Health Hub can be reached on 111. The service is open 24 hours a day.
A list of other mental health support services available to people in Shetland can be found on the Healthy Shetland website.
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