This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and one woman continues to go above and beyond when it comes to making sure there’s support available for those who are suffering in South Holland.
Vanessa Browning decided to help put on events and provide support after struggling with her own mental health issues around ten years ago.
Since then, she’s launched Community Mind Matters, ‘created for residents of South Holland and The Deepings suffering with depression and anxiety to interact and share advice’.
Not only is the group there to contact if people are in trouble, but Vanessa also puts on several sessions a week to bring people together, or just chats with them about their mental health on a bench.
“We must have saved so many lives over the years,” Vanessa said of the team of volunteers she has brought together.
“I’m always about doing things for the community. This is my home and I want to make it as good a place as possible.
“I want to be the voice for those that don’t have one.
“Because I’m not part of the health service I don’t have any red tape, my only goal is to make sure the person who is suffering is OK.
“If you’ve someone else supporting you, such as our mental health advocates, it can be a lifesaver.
“I know of people who do go through the NHS, but I’ve been able to get through to the right people quicker.
“Really though, we are more about prevention and hopefully we can reach and help people before they need NHS services.
“I do now have the tools to deal with my own mental health issues and hopefully I can use those tools to help others as well. It’s just what I want to do.
“So many people are afraid to talk about their mental health.
“I want to help people on their journey.”
The regular sessions Community Mind Matters and Vanessa puts on include group get-togethers at Nene Court (9am to 1pm on Mondays), at Lime Court Community Hall (10am to 12pm on Tuesdays), at Ayscoughfee Hall (12pm to 3pm on Thursdays) and at Spalding Library (3pm to 4.30pm on Fridays).
In addition Vanessa hosts a special Colouring Group at Spalding Library from 3.30pm to 5pm every Thursday and cooks a free meal at Pinchbeck Baptist Church every second Saturday from 12pm to 2pm.
For the last few years Vanessa, alongside her family, has also cooked such meals on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to ensure people aren’t on their own.
“The Baptist Church has supported me for many years,” Vanessa said. “My days do not always go the way I want. I want to be there for people, so I’ll quite often go out to them if they need that.
“Nine times out of ten people come to Ayscoughfee to talk. It’s such a beautiful and calming place and we have the Community Matters bench there.
“Anyone can sit down and we’ll try to be there to talk.”
There’s also the Community Mind Matters sites on social media where Vanessa often posts, including on some of her many walks given that she doesn’t drive.
“I walk around ten miles every day,” she continued. “I don’t mind it all because it gives me time to think. I can also go into town and speak to people in the various shops.
“For example; Trudy in the Green Bowl is fantastic and lets me have the back of the café for groups on a Friday. The people at the library are brilliant too.
“I am very lucky to have an amazing team that give me great support including Jack McLean who has been behind me from the start, Coun Ingrid Sheard and all the committee and volunteers.
“A huge thank you to all the local businesses too that support with everything that I do.”
