Charity’s big hand of friendship goes global
A MENTAL health charity has been making waves across the world – by spreading the ‘love’ hand sign.
Salford-based 4mindzfoundation has already amassed 8,000 followers on Instagram, has been encouraging people from all over to get involved.
Users are asked to take a picture holding up their hand using the sign for ‘love,’ and to share it on social media.
Founder Rebecca Mcallister, 31, said since the creation of the #wegoagain campaign, people have been coming forward and talking more about their struggles.
“We had one person come to us last night who was saying they wanted to take their own life, but the fact the group was there for them to talk to, it helped them,” she said. “People do have things going on in the background, when the sun goes down and the door shuts, you’ve only got yourself and your thoughts.
“That’s what most of us are going through. And that’s why we set up the group, so that people can chat one to one, 24 hours a day, as someone will always be awake. When people are feeling low then someone will be there to talk to.”
Rebecca, Darren Booth, 29, Paige Leanne Kilvington, 24, and Adam Crawshaw, 35, all from Salford, set up the group after they all suffered with their mental health.
Rebecca said she attempted to take her own life a number of years ago, but came out the other side and now wants to help others do the same.
She said the charity has received ‘thousands’ of images of people using the hand sign.
She said: “I woke up the morning after we first got this all going and checked my phone and I thought ‘wow.’
“I was absolutely gobsmacked with the amount of people who had got behind this. You don’t realise how many people suffer, it’s more than you think.”
The foundation has set up a charity event on November 14 at St George’s Hall in Liverpool, where local artists will come together to help raise money for a number of mental health charities. There will be free entry, but any donations from the event will go to other charities.
To get involved, take a selfie or a picture with a friend of you doing the hand sign for love, and send it to @4mindzfoundation.