For this Christmas and beyond

AN NHS and Southampton City Council-endorsed charity that’s dedicated to making Southampton a mental health friendly city is launching a support resource for the lonely this Christmas and beyond (December 2025).

Southampton Mental Health Network wants to hear from organisations, charities and businesses citywide that provide services and are hosting events across the Yuletide and into the New Year.

Chloe Naegeli, Coordinator from Southampton Mental Health Network, says: “We’re creating a citywide online guide to social activities and gatherings, like non-denominational holiday meet-ups, as well as Christmas lunches, Boxing Day walks, plus listening or support services for people to use if they are on their own this festive break or if they feel isolated and lonely within their own family or friendship groups.

We already have a good range of these on our website What’s On section and would like people to use these but would also like to add more and hear from more organisations, charities and businesses who have something to add because we’re better together.

“This is open to members and non-members of our Network. We list these services, events and activities, so people can search using their own postcode to find things going on near them and services they can access too.

As a Network our role is to collaborate with our members and partners and offer a one-stop signposting resource via our website, we don’t offer activities or support ourselves.

“Any organisation wishing to add anything to our online listings should contact us direct before December 19 to be included pre-Christmas. We’ll continue updating the guide in the new year, as we’re very aware from our members how January can be a difficult time for many when the festivities end, especially with lack of daylight and often stretched finances. We understand loneliness isn’t just at Christmas, so we’re launching our guide now and it will then be available all year round.

“By providing this and bringing people together, we hope to help boost positive mental health in Southampton. Anyone interested in adding something to our guide can fill in an online form here Add to the SMHN Website – Fill out form or should email me via smhn@communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.”

Southampton Mental Health Network’s activities build on actions from the Southampton Mental Health and Wellbeing Action Strategy.
As well as its Social Connectedness Campaign, which the online guide is part of, it is officially launching a Power of Hello initiative on December 20 – counting down to the city’s first Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day on July 8, 2026.

“Our Power of Hello Campaign focusses on celebrating good mental health, encouraging social connectedness and promoting the simple yet powerful act of saying ‘hello’ to each other and how important that is. It’ll culminate on July 8 with social gatherings in all corners of the city, at a grassroots level, with an emphasis on meeting and greeting each other.”

The citywide Power of Hello Campaign promotes a simple message encouraging residents and those that work in Southampton to connect with others, reduce isolation and strengthen community ties.

Chloe adds: “We would like as many businesses, organisations, charities, companies and individuals as possible to get involved – even if just in a small way by saying ‘hello’ to someone in the street or making eye contact and sharing a smile on a bus journey. The simple, friendly act of acknowledging another person and their existence could make someone’s day – and yours too – helping boost positive mental wellbeing and improving Social Connectedness too.

“By working collaboratively with awareness raising campaigns like these, we can make Southampton a city where positive mental health and wellbeing thrive.”

Among those organisations already involved with the citywide Social Connectedness Campaign, the Power of Hello Campaign and the Southampton Mental Health Friendly Day are The Probation Service, Solent Mind, a charity that provides services supporting individuals to develop positive mental wellbeing, Southampton Voluntary Service (SVS), which has been supporting volunteering and voluntary organisations in Southampton since 1968, and KvLS Mental Health Support, which offers counselling.

Also involved are the charity Communicare in Southampton, which works with all generations, but predominantly older residents, to help beat loneliness and isolation.

Southampton Mental Health Network became publicly active in 2019 and, with more than 100 member organisations involved in its development, became a charity in September 2022.

Working together, these organisations want to make Southampton a mental wellbeing friendly city, ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion for all.
Southampton Mental Health Network aims to create welcoming spaces for discussion, while being understanding and supportive of those living with mental health challenges.

For further details or to join Southampton Mental Health Network, please visit www.smhn.org.uk.