A café where people can talk about mental health is opening at the Marks & Spencer in Westfield.
Ruby Wax, the number one bestselling author, comedian and leading mental health awareness campaigner is teaming up with the high street giants to launch The Frazzled Café.
It is opening in 11 locations across the country, including the Shepherd’s Bush shopping centre , and will host fortnightly "talk-in" sessions where people who are feeling frazzled can meet to talk and share their personal stories in a safe, anonymous and non-judgmental environment.
Held at M&S cafés after hours and led by trained volunteer facilitators, Frazzled Café meetings are designed not just for the one-in-four Britons who will suffer a mental illness at some point , but for all those who feel overwhelmed by the stresses of modern life.
The purpose of the meetings are to provide a space where people can talk openly with others who understand how they are feeling.
Ruby Wax said: “We live in a time where to have a life crammed to the hilt is considered a success story.
“But with all this pressure, so many of us have nowhere to go to meet and talk about it. Frazzled Cafe is about people coming together to share their stories, calmly sitting together, stating their case and feeling validated as a result. Feeling heard, to me, has always been half the cure.
“It’s special to get a company like M&S on-board. I’m grateful for the set-up support they’ve given us and access to their café network is a huge boost.”
Frazzled Cafe is a not for profit and soon to be registered charity created by Ruby Wax and run by Elizabeth Morrison and Anna D’Onofrio.
Its name is inspired by Ruby’s number one bestselling book A Mindfulness Guide for the Frazzled which is now available in paperback.
The service is expected to launch at Westfield in May.
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