Story By Sue Campbell

How do you start a conversation about someone’s mental health, their wellbeing, their worries, feelings and concerns?

Imagine you’re chatting to someone you might not even know well. They seem a bit distracted, maybe unfocussed, a bit down and withdrawn.

How can you help, give them somewhere to go and talk about whatever may be concerning them, without broadcasting it or patronising them?

A focus on mental health is one of Rotary International President Gordon McInally’s themes this Rotary year. His aim is to erase any stigma associated with discussions of emotional well-being, to raise awareness of mental health needs and improve access to mental health services.

One Rotary in the north-east of England has come up with a simple but effective way of reaching out to those who may have concerns.

Berwick-upon-Tweed Rotary has produced a business card-sized card for people to hand out to those they feel may need to talk. Titled #ItsOkayNotToBeOkay, many hundreds have already been given out to people to keep and use themselves or hand to anyone they see may need to chat to someone independent.

Individuals, hairdressers, taxi drivers, bar staff, railway workers, stall holders in the local market, community groups and many more have all enthusiastically taken to the idea and carry them or have them in their premises to pick up.

This year’s Berwick President Jimmy Jamieson said: “This goes back to about 2017, when we launched a similar card. It followed the death of a popular young man in the town, which affected many people. But it became a bit lost in the pandemic years, so we decided to update, improve and relaunch it.

“It’s about enabling people to reach out to anyone they think may be struggling or who may need to talk. And it’s been very well received so far.”

The idea resurfaced at the annual Berwick Rotary Party on the Parade last summer, a community event with entertainment, a fete and music from professional bands who, last year, donated their time to raise awareness and money for mental health charities.

It prompted a rethink of the card and the driver behind the new initiative is Berwick Rotarian Tim Barnsley, who joined Rotary last year.

Tim said: “It seemed like a perfect time to re-introduce the card. The original was a one-sided version, but we’ve now added a new message on one side and updated the contact details of a broader range of local organisations who may be able to help on the other.”

The message says any of us may find ourselves needing to talk, but don’t know who to turn to, and that Berwick Rotary is asking people to carry the card to have numbers handy if they, or others need to chat.

Overleaf are numbers of organisations who may be able to help, including the Samaritans, Saneline, Berwick Youth Project, Silverline and Andy’s Man Club.

The new cards were launched at Berwick’s Christmas Market last year, when they were given out to stall holders and people attending the popular event.

Tim said: “There has only been one rejection, and people seem to embrace the idea wholeheartedly.

“We did have an interesting interaction with a couple of teenage lads – 16- or 17-year-olds – who took pictures of the message and the phone numbers and said they would pass them on from their own phones.”

Berwick Rotary has produced 5,000 cards to start with and more than half of them have already been handed out. Tim and other club members are continuing to approach local organisations and commercial venues to take and distribute the cards.

They are inexpensive and easy to produce, and is a clear link to one of Gordon McInally’s main focusses. And its fame has spread. Following local newspaper and social media publicity a Rotary club across the Scottish border has made contact to pick Berwick’s brains about doing something similar in its area.

Berwick is in the Rotary North-East District, which has also agreed to promote the idea to their clubs throughout the region.

Rotary North-East District Governor, Joy Palmer-Cooper, said: “When this fantastic initiative was brought to our attention it seemed like a brilliant idea we can promote. Simple, inexpensive, with a clear focus on helping our communities find a positive route to the right advice, we will be recommending it to all our clubs.”

RI President, Gordon McInally, added: “More people around the world are facing mental health issues. And yet, seeking assistance is often perceived as a sign of weakness.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. Reaching out for help is courageous — and continuing on a path toward wellness is even more so.”

Of course, there is no way of knowing how successful Berwick’s initiative is. Confidentiality is the key. But this club in the far north of England has found a helpful way along that path.