Planting Seeds Between the Pages: Alex’s Story

To Alex* a meet-up consists of “meeting people you wouldn’t normally meet, doing things

you wouldn’t normally do”. I would have to agree from my own experience co-hosting one of Activate Mental Health’s Silent Book Clubs. It was in the other silent book club that Alex had their first encounter with Activate as a patron. This meet-up back in 2023 was an unusual time for Alex as it had a small turn out, but they remember reading a self-help book.

Involvement with meetups has only grown since then and has become a positive way that

Alex meets new people and books. Being an introvert with quiet passions in reading and

gaming, Activate Mental Health provides events where Alex meets other like-minded

individuals, all getting out and doing something for themselves. For Alex, telling me this over

toast and matcha, this last point is critical as they are the primary carer for a family member

with mental health challenges. This time to focus on their hobbies has become incredibly important to Alex as respite from balancing care responsibilities at home.

As of April 2024, Alex has become a volunteer with Activate although they still attend other

meet-ups as a patron. When asked about what volunteering adds to the meet-up

experience Alex was quick to note their social skills increased as well as their ability to

handle group facilitation. I agreed that sometimes it can be difficult, but Alex uses these

experiences to build resilience especially with regular meet-ups. It has given them courage

to take risks and lead discussions while understanding you can’t please all patrons. One tip

Alex had for other volunteers getting started is “a nice space matters” and can provide the

basis for a great community.

For Alex, who is quite an active volunteer already, moving forward means looking to become

more involved while balancing energy levels and prioritising their need to recharge as an

introvert. They love reading alone but through silent book clubs, Alex has discovered it is “so

nice to read with others”. This speaks to the wider message of Activate Mental Health to

pursue interests within community, something that Alex’s quiet story demonstrates loudly.

*= The volunteer who provided AMH with his story preferred to use an alias and chose to be anonymous.

This article was written by Eva, a member of the Activate Mental Health volunteer team.

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