New face-to-face ‘Frazzled’ sessions will run every Monday evening at Attic Café.
Frazzled, the mental wellbeing charity founded by Ruby Wax, is launching a new weekly face-to-face group in Southend for local people who are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, isolated, or simply in need of somewhere to talk and be heard.
The free sessions will take place every Monday evening at Attic Cafe on Eastern Esplanade, with people invited to arrive from 6:45pm for tea or coffee before the meeting begins at 7pm.
Frazzled meetings offer a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space where people can talk openly about how they are feeling. There is no pressure to share. Some people come to speak, some come simply to listen, and both are equally welcome.
The Southend group will be led by a small team of trained local volunteers, including Jo, Jackie, Lian and Alex.
After coming across Frazzled at a Samaritans Conference several years ago, Jo reached out to express interest in starting a face-to-face group in Southend. Alongside fellow Samaritan, Jackie, early years practitioner Lian, and long-time Frazzled online volunteer Alex, the four have helped bring the new weekly meeting to life.
“Having volunteered for a long time with Samaritans, I understand the importance of creating opportunities for people to talk openly and access support when they need it,” said Jo. “I wanted Attic to provide both the space and the time for those conversations to happen.”
Frazzled meetings are not therapy, counselling, or clinical treatment. They are not about giving advice or trying to fix people’s problems. They are peer support spaces built around simple human connection: the relief of being able to say how you really are, and to sit with other people who understand what it means to feel frazzled.
So many people are feeling frazzled, and so many people feel they have to carry that on their own,” said Sarah Hocking, Head of Programmes at Frazzled. “What makes Frazzled special is the simplicity of people coming together and being honest about how difficult life can feel sometimes. There is never any pressure to share in our groups. Sometimes just being in a room with others who understand can make a real difference. We’re really pleased to be bringing Frazzled back into a face-to-face community setting in Southend.”
The sessions are open to anyone aged 18 and over. They may be helpful for people who are feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, struggling with their mental wellbeing, adjusting to change, or looking for a regular space where they can feel less alone.
Frazzled does not provide crisis support and the meetings are not suitable for anyone who needs urgent clinical help. Anyone in immediate danger or acute distress should contact emergency services, NHS 111, their GP, or a crisis support service.
Event details
- What: Free Frazzled mental wellbeing support sessions
- When: Every Monday evening - arrive from 6:45pm for tea or coffee, with a 7pm start
- Where: Attic Cafe, 48 Eastern Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 2ES
- Cost: Free
- Who for: Anyone aged 18 and over
Free parking is available on Victoria Road, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Eastern Esplanade past the Premier Inn.
For more information, visit: The Frazzled Cafe website.
For questions, contact the Frazzled team at: team@frazzledcafe.org
About Frazzled
Frazzled was created by Ruby Wax in 2017 after she saw, again and again, how many people were struggling with the stresses of everyday life and how much people needed safe spaces to talk openly.
Frazzled meetings give people a place to share their stories, feelings and worries in a supportive, confidential and non-judgmental setting. The charity’s work is built around the simple idea that many of us are carrying more than we let on, and that speaking honestly with others can help us feel less alone.
Frazzled runs free online meetings via Zoom and is now developing more face-to-face community sessions.
Frazzled is a registered charity in England and Wales. Registered Charity No. 1173064.