Local rail operator c2c, has partnered with mental health charity Basildon Mind to raise awareness of the help the charity provides to the local community.  

Throughout May and to mark this year's Mental Health Awareness Week, the signage at c2c's Basildon station displays the Mind logo to remind customers and c2c staff that the charity is there to provide help and support to the one in four of us that will suffer a mental health issue this year.  

The charity provides counselling to adults, young people and children aged seven and above and through its partnership with the Sophie Grierson Fund, it provides 12 hours of emergency one-to-one counselling to young people in severe mental health distress.  

John Birkett, Chair at Basildon Mind, said: "We are so thankful for the support c2c has given to us and we hope that when the commuters see the new signs they will search and find the services that Basildon Mind provide to their community.   

"Almost all of the services we provide are funded by us here at Basildon Mind and we rely on the local community, individuals, companies, schools, and groups to fundraise for us."  

 c2c's Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Paul McGunnigle-White, spoke about the collaboration: "c2c is proud to be teaming up with Basildon Mind to promote Mental Health Awareness Week and the fantastic work that it does in the local community.  

"Basildon is one of our busiest stations so this will not only benefit our customers, but also many of our colleagues who live in the local area. Mental health awareness is a far-reaching topic and a big part of c2c's equality, diversity and inclusion strategy; we want to highlight the importance of good mental health and signpost our communities to the right place, where they can find help and support for themselves and their families during distressing times.  

"We are proud to work with our communities to tackle mental health issues and the stigma that may be attached. We hope this simple activation with Basildon Mind will help anyone struggling feel less alone and that they have somewhere to turn."  

Basildon Mind runs a number of supported flats and houses that provide care and support to those with longer-term mental ill health, and its wellbeing activities include four-weekly 'walk and talk' events (walks accompanied by an experienced counsellor) and gardening at its allotment in Vange, which provides a safe and healthy environment to improve both physical and mental health.  

We have created the video below to really get the message across, which can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4pCXnsF01c