Bristol Lieutenancy observes Brew Monday

The third Monday in January is called Blue Monday as social isolation, the bills from Christmas spending and the dark, long winter days take a toll of people’s mental health. Instead of being overwhelmed by problems, the Samaritans launched Brew Monday to encourage us to socialise over a cup of tea and listen to what is on the mind of others.  Maggie Cameron MBE DL of the Bristol Samaritans explained how even a virtual connection is good for your mental well-being. She added, ’64% of people in Britain have felt lonely over the past year because of social isolation due to the Covid19 pandemic.  9 out of 10 people find that spending time with friends and family helped their mental health.’  Importantly, Maggie helped the Bristol Lieutenancy to polish up their listening skills, too. 'Being a good listener means focussing on the other person, making eye contact and putting away distractions such as your mobile phone. Just checking in on someone could make the difference to their day!'