To celebrate Mental Health Awareness week, leading shopping destination centre:mk is opening its new ‘Chill Out Zone’ for visitors who want to spend a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the busy shopping centre.
Mental Health Awareness Week is organised by the Mental Health Foundation to get people thinking and talking about mental health to help tackle the stigma surrounding the topic and encourage people suffering to seek help.
This year’s theme is anxiety, which according to a recent poll by The Mental Health Foundation, is one of the most common mental health problems we face.
The new ’Chill Out Zone’ is located on Midsummer Arcade by John Lewis and partners, in a quieter area of the centre away from the crowds. There are comfortable chairs where customers can sit and be surrounded by some of the plants, shrubs and trees that centre:mk is famous for.
The centre is currently undergoing a major refresh of the 54 planters in the malls, including the introduction of 8,000 new plants and trees and spending just 10 minutes around plants is known to boost our mood and relieving stress and anxiety.
Centre Director, Kevin Duffy said, “It is really important that we are accessible to all and we go beyond the expected. We know that a busy shopping centre environment can become overwhelming for some, so we wanted to create a relaxing and quiet space where we can all take time out, relax and regroup, until they feel ready to make the most of the fantastic retail offering and choice of restaurants in the centre.
"It’s the perfect spot to have a break and simply enjoy the surroundings”
Centre:mk will also be lighting up their multistorey car park green, the colour representing Mental Health Awareness Week, to help raise awareness in support of the cause.
