Eastbourne Samaritans remind you to reach out to people on Brew Monday

A spokesperson said: “The third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’ but this is a myth.

"At Samaritans we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar to decide.

“So we say it's time to stop this myth about Monday being 'blue' and instead start a conversation over a brew! Reach out and connect with family, friends, colleagues and loved ones.

“We can always make time for a cuppa and a catch-up. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Monday morning or Saturday night, or if you’re drinking green tea, black coffee or orange juice. If you’re sharing a cuppa and listening, you’re doing it right.”

Eastbourne and District Samaritans is reaching out to all cafes and businesses serving hot drinks in Eastbourne and surrounding areas with an offer to provide free leaflets and listening tips on Brew Monday.

This is an opportunity to remind customers about the benefits of having a cuppa and a chat at their favourite café.

Just email [email protected] and volunteers will drop by with publicity material for your tables just before the event. All you need to do is display it so your customers can help themselves.

Samaritans’ listening tips leaflet is a handy pocket sized reminder about the importance of being a good listener. “Once someone starts to share how they’re feeling, it’s important to listen. This could mean not offering advice, not trying to identify what they’re going through with your own experiences and not trying to solve their problems.”