Vijay Wiltshire holds a cup designed to raise awareness on mental health support
A bar in St Peter Port has launched memory cups to rase money for a mental health charity in honour of two men who took their own lives.
Vijay Wiltshire, who owns the Roll Bar, knew both men through football and said: “I always saw them smiling and happy and never imagined either of them was struggling.”
He added: “Men’s mental health can still be a silent killer, and stigma plays a big part.
“We want to raise awareness, encourage conversations, and remind people that support is available across the island.”
A resource corner has been set up in the Roll Bar
He added: “To think that one of my friends has gone that far makes me pretty sad.
“Anything that we can do to prevent this going forward is something I’d like to be involved with.
“I’m conscious that young men are going through this a lot.”
Money raised from the sale of the cups will be donated to Mind Guernsey, he said.
‘Walk and talk’
Guernsey Mind’s supported self-help service is free and offers practical tools and strategies to help people cope and appointments for the over-18s are usually available within one to two weeks, the charity said.
Amanda Hibbs, from Guernsey Mind, said: “We encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out as soon as possible – early support can make a huge difference.”
Wiltshire said support was also offered by the Samaritans and the Health Commission.
He is planning to launch Sunday morning walk and talk sessions to reduce isolation and encourage “face-to-face” contact.
Wiltshire told BBC Guernsey: “I’m conscious when customers come to see us we may be the only people they see on a daily basis.”
He said he had also created an area in the bar where people coould pick up information about the support on offer.
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