A WOMAN has set up a social group where anyone can come for a "coffee and a chat with friendly people" who offer mental health support.

Jan Pearson, a social worker from Basingstoke, has started a social group welcoming individuals in the town to join and open up about mental health.

She said: "We chose Costa in Rooksdown because it's reasonably quiet, our group is a social mind-space with friendly people who would welcome anyone who would like mental health support.

"We're not nurses, but we are people with lived experience."

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The group meets on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at the Costa Coffee in Canadian Way, Rooksdown.

Jan said she came into the mental health system when a family member started to have very complex mental health issues.

She continued: "I'm not running this group as a social worker but as someone who has lived experience."

Jan explained how even the simplest task, such as getting a coffee on your own, can be a struggle if you suffer from mental health issues.

She said: "It is actually quite hard for people to meet other people because of challenges with mental health, even going for a coffee can be hard on your own, the social meetings help with isolation, I know that mental health struggles can make you feel quite isolated.

"The group is very relaxed, it's nothing formal and it's in the early stages at the minute but we would like to see if we can grow.

"The few people here so far have found it really important. It has helped them."

Readers who wish to join Jan and her group can get in touch by emailing fieldmont@hotmail.co.uk.