New Mental Health Support Benches Installed Across Devon
Initiative aims to provide discreet access to wellbeing information and support in community spaces.
By Verity Coombes
••3 min read
AI
A mental health support bench in a West Country park.
Communities across Devon are set to benefit from new mental health support benches, designed to offer discreet access to vital wellbeing information and assistance.
The initiative, developed by Devon County Council's Public Health team in collaboration with the charity SAFE South West, aims to make it easier for individuals to find the help they need. The benches are being installed in various community locations, providing a space for people to pause and access information about mental health and wellbeing support.
Crafted from recycled plastic, each bench features the engraved message ‘Come Sit With Us’ and a plaque directing users to the Devon Support Bench online hub. This hub provides links to organisations offering help and information, alongside contact details for Samaritans and crisis text support. The goal is to offer multiple avenues for seeking assistance, whether through direct conversation, text messages, or finding advice for supporting others.
So far, six new benches have been installed, with plaques also added to eight existing community benches. Plans are in place for a further three support benches. This year's World Mental Health Day theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices, real change’, underscores the importance of incorporating personal experiences into mental health policy and services.
“
"We want people across Devon to know that support is available and that they don’t have to face difficult times alone. These benches offer a simple and visible way of bringing information about mental health and wellbeing support into the heart of our communities. That’s particularly important in rural and coastal communities. By making this information available in familiar community spaces, we hope more people will feel able to find the support that’s right for them."
The concept for the benches originated with a firefighter who recognised the need for accessible support, drawing inspiration from 'buddy benches' in school playgrounds. The project has since expanded, involving input from mental health leads across several South West regions, councillors, the Samaritans, and Experts by Experience.
“
"The idea originally came from seeing a ‘buddy bench’ in a school playground. It was such a simple idea, somewhere a child could sit if they were feeling lonely or needed someone to talk to, and it got me thinking about whether we could do something similar in our communities. For me, it’s always been as much about community as the bench itself. Sometimes looking out for someone can simply mean noticing them, asking if they’re OK and being prepared to have a conversation."
The Devon County Council Public Health team is collaborating with various organisations to extend this information to existing benches and public noticeboards throughout Devon. Locations such as Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Barnstaple, and Bideford have already seen benches and plaques installed. Community organisations interested in receiving a signposting plaque at no cost are encouraged to contact the Public Health suicide prevention leads.
Individuals struggling with their mental health, or concerned about someone else, can find comprehensive information and support details on the council’s dedicated suicide prevention webpages.
Based on information from the official source: Devon County Council (06/10/2026)
