A cuppa and a chat to prevent suicide

TASMANIAN coffee lovers can savour the flavours that little bit more next month, safe in the knowledge they are helping to raise funds for suicide prevention.

During the month of May, Banjo’s Bakeries are donating 50c from every large coffee sold to local not-for-profit SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, and are encouraging customers to “have a cup and speak up.”

It is the fourth time that Banjo’s and SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY have collaborated for the month, and this year almost 40 stores across the country, including 28 in Tasmania, are taking part.

SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY founder Mitch McPherson said the partnership with Banjo’s had been a huge success, with more than $29,000 raised last May alone.

He said sitting down for a coffee with a friend or family member was a great way to start a conversation about mental health. “The money is amazing. It will go towards our sports program that we fund ourselves now, but the awareness is huge,” he said.

Mr McPherson said the sports program needed the funding. “We will go into sporting clubs across the state and run a 45-minute mentalhealth session around resilience and helping a friend and how to get help if you need it,” he said.

“We’ve been able to now fund that through the donations we’ve received across the years but, with no ongoing funding for it, we need money to continue coming in to allow us to keep our employees and keep that work going across the state.”

Banjo’s managing director Jessica Saxby said employees would be wearing hats and bracelets in support of the cause throughout May, and donation tins will be put out.