Mental health project collaboration

The official opening of Hidden Treasures and its collaboration project with The Zachary Geddis Break the Silence Trust took place at 28 Long Commons in Coleraine recently.

Helen Thompson, founder of Hidden Treasures, has worked in retail for over 15 years and has now dedicated her new venture of a unique thrift store to making a difference within the community. In late 2019, Helen devised the idea of offering ZGBTST the opportunity of becoming her charity partner in which the Trust would receive a space within her shop to conduct events for the community surrounding the topic of mental health.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Cllr Sean Bateson who attended the special opening said: “I would like to congratulate Yasmin and all the Geddis family on the creation of this positive and welcoming space which will make a huge difference in the local community. As the official charity for my term as Mayor I want to work together with the Trust to raise awareness about mental health and encourage people to seek help if they need it. The Trust has great plans for their new space and I would encourage everyone to give it their full support.”

ZGBTST’s space is now open to the public and has a free of charge, non-referral, professional counselling service operating from it along with 1-2-1 mental health mentioning and a variety of community events to benefit the area in its aim to raise more awareness of mental illness and decrease the stigma surrounding suicide.

The other events are focused on gaps which have been recognised within the current system and personal experiences the Geddis Family have encountered after their son and brother, Zachary Geddis, took his own life in 2017. The ZGBTST also conducts events such as creative corner where members can bring their own hobbies and form filling Fridays to help assist the public with forms.For further information, check out the Facebook page Zachary Geddis Break the Silence Trust.