After Life: Benches that promote mental health awareness to be installed in two Liverpool parks

Two benches which promote mental health awareness will be installed in Liverpool parks to help get people talking.

The campaign against living miserably (CALM) has teamed up with Netflix to gift the benches to towns and cities across the UK.

CALM has said how benches are a place where people can reflect, talk to someone and get things off your chest.

To help with this, the benches are also inscribed with that crucial line from the show, “Hope is everything” –  to help people have those conversations and to show it’s normal to have those feelings.

The two locations in Liverpool are Stanley Park and Woolton Walled Gardens.

After Life and mental health

For those who have watched the show, you will know that the bench in the graveyard scenes play a vital role to the story line.

Tony (Ricky Gervais) sits alongside Anne (Penelope Wilton) to reflect on the grief they have both experienced in their lives.

Anne is the one person who Tony feels he can truly open up to, and having someone to confide in openly is something that the campaign promotes.

“I don’t think any harm can come from discussing taboo subjects – if we don’t, they stay taboo because people are scared to talk about them,” Ricky Gervais said at the launch of the campaign.

“After Life let people talk about grief, and it was so good to start the conversation.”

What’s been said

A spokesperson at CALM said: “We know talking to someone you trust really can help.

“Opening up about to your mates or family is not an easy thing to do. But starting that conversation can be the start of getting the support you need.

“By helping them better understand and support you, you’re giving you – and them – the best chance of doing that.”

They added: “Like After Life shows, grief doesn’t always make sense, and how you feel can change from day to day or hour to hour.

“It’s common to hear the saying ‘time is a healer’ or words to that effect, but grief isn’t something you ‘get through’.

“It can resurface years after a loss and can feel just as intense. Having someone to support us when we’re experiencing grief is important, as is being able to talk openly about how you feel.”

Twenty-five benches will be installed across the UK in total.