Where do You go to Feel Safe?

Stacey Marriott – Night Light Cafe Coordinator

The little girl buried her face in her mother’s chest and snuggled into her place of safety. We were at a party and she was feeling shy amid the hubbub and bustle. I smiled to myself, reflecting on the importance of having a ‘safe place’. I had recently found myself in a situation where I had felt like that little girl. It was the anniversary of a traumatic event and I had been along to a church celebration day. I had felt OK when I left my house but when I arrived and was surrounded by a large crowd of people who weren’t aware of the impact this traumatic event had had on me many years before, I started to feel very vulnerable and fraught with anxiety.

I searched the room for a familiar face, wondering what to do. I spotted one of the Night Light Volunteers who had an empty seat beside her and I threw myself into it. The lady could see that I was tense and she didn’t ask me why, but at the same time gave me the space to tell her if I wanted to. She listened to me without expressing her own views, and she let me know that she was not going to leave me on my own. The safety I felt in her presence soothed me and I began to calm down.

This is why we started the Night Light cafe initiative. We wanted everyone in our city to know that they don’t have to face difficult times alone. When things get tough, there is always a safe place to go where people are met with care and acceptance. This can make the difference between escalation into a mental health crisis and finding the support needed to de-escalate and stabilise.

Click here for more information about the Night Light Cafes, or visit our Facebook page @nightlightcafelincoln