Brody's Notes... "Come In, Come Out" At The Lesbian & Gay Foundation In Manchester UK

This National Coming Out Day and World Mental Health Day “Come In, Come Out” at The Lesbian & Gay Foundation (LGF) about anything you like.

The Lesbian & Gay Foundation are celebrating World Mental Health Day and National Coming Out Day by encouraging people to “Come In, Come Out”, all day on Monday 11th October, at their new home Number 5, Richmond Street, Manchester.

World Mental Health Day is marked on the 10th of October and was started by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992. It is a unified effort to promote greater public awareness and understanding of mental health and mental illness.

National Coming Out Day is marked on the 11th of October in the United States, and October 12th in the UK. It started in 1988 to raise awareness of issues around coming out, and to encourage discussion and support around lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGB&T) issues.

Back in July the LGF launched a Pop-In service, based on feedback from people who use our services. The message people were giving us is that often they just need to speak to someone, without having to wait, about the sort of things that affect us all at one point of another, like relationships and family problems. So, we listened and took action!

As the Pop-In service has proved such a success, we have decided that it deserves an official launch day, in the form of "Come In, Come Out".

We will have trained staff and volunteers on hand from 10am, answering helpline calls and offering 40-minute pop-in sessions to anyone coming into Number 5. We can offer support, information, advice and even a cuppa and a piece of cake!

Lucy Rolfe, The Lesbian & Gay Foundation’s Wellbeing Co-ordinatorsays: “You can come out to us in confidence about anything that is bothering you, whether it's relationships, coming out, mental health issues, anything that’s on your mind.  It goes back to the old saying that a problem shared is a problem halved -  just talking to someone for half an hour about the things that are bothering you can make a world of difference to how you feel.” 

There will also be a holistic therapist offering free homeopathy appointments between 2pm and 5pm. She will be offering advice and guidance on how to look after your mental and emotional wellbeing using holistic therapies.

If people can’t pop-in on Monday 11th October, but would still like to talk to someone in confidence, the LGF pop-in service and helpline - 0845 3 30 30 30 - are both available every day from 10am.

"Come In, Come Out".
Monday 11th October 10am to 10pm
Number 5, Richmond Street, Manchester M1 3HF
For more information please contact Samantha Days on 0845 3 30 30 30 or email Samantha.Days@lgf.org.uk