A new group hopes to get women talking about their mental health. 

Don’t Be Alone (DBA) is a new group based in Launceston which aims to give women a safe ‘judgement free’ space to discuss their struggles. 

The group was founded by Nicky Hicks with the support of Pat Orridge, chairman of the Orchard Centre. 

The idea came about after Nicky attended a well-being meeting hosted by the town’s library which centred on ‘coping at Christmas’. 

Speaking to the Post, Nicky said: “What prompted the creation of the group was attending the meeting at the library that my partner took me to which he told me was just a short meeting to chat about Christmas followed by dinner, what I was actually faced with was a meeting about coping with Christmas and found myself in a discussion group a little out of my comfort zone. 

“While sitting down for dinner with the other members I was speaking about how lucky the men where to have a group and place they can go to offload in town. 

“Not too long ago I found myself in a very dark place and couldn't see the point in being here while also finding that I had nowhere to turn and nowhere to go. While searching for a group that I could attend to find help I quickly realised there was nothing and had to find my own way to cope, my own way out of the dark by myself. 

“While chatting I thought that it would be great if women had somewhere that they could go, I soon had the backing from Pat who very kindly offered the Orchard Centre to hold the meetings and who very kindly offered to support me.” 

The new group hopes to offer support to women over the age of 18 who need to offload, giving people the chance to make friends and “help them feel that they are not alone” 

“We aim to hold meetings every fortnight,” Nicky continued. “These will either be two evenings a month, two daytime sessions or both depending on the support and need of the town. 

“Groups like this are so important. Women find themselves facing many different challenges throughout their lives, many with no support network and nowhere to turn. 

“Talking is so important to help offload and a problem shared is a problem halved.  We need to get talking groups like this well help woman to not feel alone, to have a safe space where they can find support.” 

“We are not professionals, nor qualified but we are life learnt and lived.” 

For more information, email: [email protected]