North London pub to host mental health drop-in centre

George Karageorgis of Enterprise lease, the Clissold Arms, in East Finchley, has partnered with the Haringey branch of Mind to host the weekly sessions run by a trained therapist.

The sessions will initially be targeted at secondary school-age children who often struggle to talk about issues affecting them — for example bullying, depression and family-related problems.

Karageorgis said he came up with the idea after fundraising at the pub during the summer raised more than £2,000 for the charity.

“I decided I wanted to work together with this charity on a community-based project that would help local families and try to remove some of the stigma that surrounds issues of mental health,” he said.

Information​

While actual therapy sessions will not take place in the pub, appropriate information and literature on available services will be provided and therapy can be arranged at the charity’s nearest centre.

“Mental illness is a subject that is very often swept under the carpet both by the families affected and by the community at large. This is an idea that has been at
the back of my mind for some time, and having spoken to many customers at the pub, it is only an issue discussed when you get to know someone really well,” Karageorgis said.

The sessions will be promoted on the charity’s website, as well as through social media, leaflets and a dedicated A-board at the pub. The first drop-in session will be held on 12 November.

The Clissold Arms was named a regional winner in the Best Family Pub category of this year’s Great British Pub Awards.