A third bench offering a place for people to go if they’re struggling with their mental health has been installed in Christchurch Park. Created with a local family's support, it honours the memory of their child while serving as a reminder that help is available.
The new bench, located on the path near the Mansion Lawn, was installed on Tuesday 25 August as part of a partnership between Ipswich Borough Council and the charity Legend on the Bench. It is designed to offer comfort, encourage conversations around mental health and help connect people with support when they need it most. Each bench features a QR code linking directly to organisations and services that can provide help to people experiencing mental health challenges or suicidal thoughts.
Councillor Stefan Long, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sport said: "It was a privilege to be there for the installation of this third support bench in Ipswich. This wouldn’t have happened if a bereaved mum hadn’t reached out to enable us to create a space that could make a difference to others.
"We know that many people experience periods in their lives when they feel overwhelmed or alone, and these benches act as a visible reminder that support is available.
"We hope this bench provides a place for reflection, remembrance and connection for many years to come."
The Christchurch Park installation is the third Legend on the Bench to be installed in Ipswich and forms part of a nationwide initiative aiming to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide by providing accessible points of support in parks and open spaces across the country. The two existing Legend on the Bench installations sit in Bourne Park and Chantry Park.
Residents who would like to support the installation of future benches in Ipswich are encouraged to contact the Council's Parks and Cemeteries team by emailing parks.services@ipswich.gov.uk.
For more information about Legend on the Bench, visit www.legend-on-the-bench.co.uk.
Support information
Anyone struggling with their mental health or experiencing suicidal thoughts can contact Samaritans free of charge, 24 hours a day, on 116 123 or visit: www.samaritans.org.