As part of Eyemouth’s very first Wellness Week we held our own very first Happiness Habits Café. We ran this through our new Flourishing Borders project – encouraging good mental health and wellbeing among older people in the Scottish Borders.
We were a little apprehensive in the run up to the first Café – would anyone turn up? Would the older people of Eyemouth be willing to discuss their mental health and wellbeing? However, armed with our table signs, table cloths and pens Lindsey and I set off for Eyemouth on a very wet and windy late September day.
We had absolutely no reason to worry, the weather in Eyemouth was lovely and the people just kept coming. Soon all the tables were full, everyone was eating, chatting and writing on the table cloths (which we were told was rather daring!). It was a really positive afternoon; everyone who came along engaged in the discussions and very openly talked about what helps them when they are feeling down. We heard things like:
“Get out the house at least once a day. Go for a walk/coffee/anything that takes you out”
“A good chat with someone not even necessarily about problems causing mood problems. The interaction is important”
“I’ve had severe depression, I was wandering around – I met Johnny, he got me involved in things. I feel so much better, that’s since September”
The group also talked about taking part in different activities to help them feel good like walking, bird-watching, playing bridge, chanting, singing, knitting and gardening, as well as giving us their top tips for coping with life:
“Origami is very soothing”
“Having a laugh with friends”
“Live life to the full”
Listening to people talking so openly about mental health and leaving feeling more positive about life than when they came in makes it a very rewarding project to be involved in.
We couldn’t have done it without the help of Jo from Health In Mind, the local Men’s Sheds (who very kindly allowed us to open it out to non-members and women for the afternoon) Claire’s Kitchen (a local café who provided us with a wonderful soup and sandwich lunch) and all the wonderful people of Eyemouth how came along to the event.
Interested? We’ve got more cafes coming up…
- Galashiels, 10th November (1.30pm)
- Hawick, 14th November (2-4pm)
…and even more to be confirmed!
If you’d like to come along to one of these cafes, or would like a Happiness Habits cafe organised in your area, please get in touch with Lindsey or Christine
