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“Lonely” Christmas Tree goes online to raise awareness of mental health issues at Christmas (24 December 2013)

Date: 24/12/2013
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, “Lonely” Christmas Tree goes online to raise awareness of mental health issues at Christmas

A Yorkshire woman has planted a “lonely” Christmas tree on a golf course in Skelton to raise awareness of mental health issues over the Christmas period.

Janet Easton from Skelton devised the idea after her mother gave her a box of Christmas decorations. This year’s “lonely” Christmas tree is planted on Skelton Golf Course in Yorkshire and is decorated with the decorations her mother gave her, after Janet recalled seeing a single Christmas tree by the side of the road on visits she made to see her father before he died.

“I don’t know who had done it or why, but it always made me happy to see it,” she told York Press online.

The Christmas and New Year period can be extremely stressful for some mental health patients, who may be estranged from their family and friends or living in hostels after becoming homeless.

Anxiety about being able to access mental health services over Christmas and New Year can be another issue for mental health patients – especially those requiring acute services or special placements. In several areas of the country, mental health patients are reporting long waiting lists for admission to inpatient mental health services as budget cuts mean a reduction in the number of mental health beds available.

Janet Easton uses the Lonely Christmas Tree to help support York mental health charity Mind – and the tree has its own Facebook profile as well as a JustGiving page where supporters can make donations.

Holly Pollard – a community fundraiser at York Mind – called the idea “brilliant” and said:

“I am always amazed by the variety of things people do to raise money and Janet is doing something different and relevant to the festive season.”

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of mental health solicitors and offers free legal advice to mental health patients, including detention under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors can also advise the families and carers of mental health patients – and can arrange for a review of the treatment and care of mental health patients where appropriate.

Duncan Lewis Mental health solicitors are also available to visit police stations and hospitals at short notice.

Contact the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124 – or for urgent help call the Duncan Lewis Emergency Hotline on 020 7275 2036.

Call us now on 033 3772 0409 or click here to send online enquiry.
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