Messages of NHS mental health support at Bedford train station

Friendly faces and messages of help and support are on show at Bedford train station as part of an NHS mental health campaign.

Mental health crisis support is available across Bedfordshire for all ages, 24hrs a day, seven days a week, by calling NHS 111 (option 2).

Posters raising awareness of the service and promoting a key message that you are not alone if you need urgent help have now been placed at Bedford and Flitwick train stations.

The 111 crisis support service is provided by East London NHS Foundation trust, which provides a range of NHS services across the county.

Ben Salmons, 38, from Ampthill, is the Trust’s Break the Stigma campaign lead and he has produced the posters for the train station campaign.

He said: “The aim of Break the Stigma is to help people talk about mental health and that is absolutely our message to anyone struggling or who feels they can’t cope.

"I started the campaign about five years ago, after suffering myself with mental health problems, I wanted to help others and show them what support was out there.

“Please pick up the phone and talk to us. Help is here for you.”

He added: “I would also like to thank Thameslink who are fantastic supporters of the NHS and have covered all of the costs in printing and displaying the posters.

"The posters are a way of reaching more people, and there is a high footfall at train stations, so hopefully they do reach more people."

The posters feature a mix of NHS staff and service users holding a Break the Stigma whiteboard with their own handwritten messages of support.

Thameslink Customer Services Director Jenny Saunders said: “Mental health is a hugely important topic for us here at Thameslink, especially with the stresses and strains brought about by Covid-19.

“There has never been a more important time to talk about mental health, which is why recently we used motivational pavement art to tell people that ‘We’re with you’ and ‘It’s OK not to be OK’.

“The NHS 111 crisis support service is a vital part of the support network that exists for anyone with mental health issues and I’m really pleased we have been able to help.”

Luton Airport Parkway Station Manager Joe Healy worked with Ben to deliver the posters project.

He said: "It is a great working relationship and really important getting the message to our customers and staff that there is a mental health crisis line available 24hours a day, 7 days a week.”

For more information about the Break the Stigma campaign visit: www.facebook.com/LetsBeOpenAboutMentalHealth