"Friendship Benches" Listening this on BBC tonight and it's one more thing I missed...

[TreasonousBastard]

Originally set up in Zimbabwe for penniless people with issues, it seems to be working well:

https://www.friendshipbenchzimbabwe.org/

So well it's now in NYC:

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/city-benches-encouraging-conversations-mental-health-64774855

[burrowowl]

2. A really good proactive idea

[SheltieLover]

3. Excellent idea! 👏👏👏👏👏

The single most therapeutic effect from talk therapy is for another person to listen nonjudgmentally.

The mental health of a large segment of our society is a sad testament to the fact that this is a sorely lacking dynamic.

[LearnedHand]

4. The original effort in Zimbabwe trained grandmothers to be the listeners

I remember that original project. I think maybe NPR Morning Edition covered it. I’m very glad to see it here in the States.

[JDC]

5. Not the same thing I know, but this is big in elementary schools

For the younger kids. Friendship or Buddy Benches on the playground. My wife's school has one.

[Phoenix61]

6. Very cool! I'm a new board member on a

local non-profit and one of the goals in increasing access to mental health care in traditionally African-American neighborhoods. I can do see this working there. There’s a lot of research that shows peer counseling is just as effective as professional counseling. I’ll definitely be looking into this.