'Free Hugs'
To raise awareness of World Mental Health Day (Sun 10th October) Community Health Trainers went out onto the high street in Benwell offering ‘Free Hugs’ to one and all. |
This idea was ‘borrowed’ from a movement that started in Australia, which aimed to make people feel better by the giving and receiving of hugs sole purpose of making people smile - and guess what, it worked!
Not everyone took up the offer – one gentleman said sadly that he had so many troubles he didn’t think that a hug would make any difference. One or two people looked very worried by the whole idea and moved swiftly on – avoiding eye contact let alone going for the a big bear hug. But most people were up for it and amongst a lot of laughter and smiles the human contact quotient on Addelaide Terrace went up by about 500%!
Some of the happy to be hugged said:
‘It feels like Christmas!’
‘I haven’t had a hug for a year or so!’
‘I can’t remember the last time I had a good hug – my wife’s in care now…’
‘Oh – that’s lovely – bless you!’
We even managed to stop the traffic – a bus pulled up and Jan held up her Free Hugs sign and the bus driver opened the door, she got on board, gave him a hug and then got off again and the bus went on it’s way!
Some men obviously were kept well in order by their partners – going for a quick hug but saying
’'wor lass would kill us!’
So we hugged young and old, men, women and children and can happily say that everyone felt the better for it! Go on – try it for yourself, go hug someone….
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