Newcastle’s Exhibition Park gets the Afterlife treatment

A new bench has been installed in Exhibition Park as part of a campaign to promote conversations regarding mental health.

Media giant Netflix and Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) joined forces to put 25 benches in parks across the country as part of the release campaign for season three of Rickey Gervais’ Afterlife series.

The show sees Gervais’s character, Tony, come to terms with his wife’s death and follows the grieving process over 18 episodes. The third season was announced to be the final edition.

Part of the show sees two characters sit, chat and learn from each other as they both grieve, and this idea of talking to improve mental health is the purpose of these new benches.

"The show has helped people to stop feeling ashamed or embarrassed about discussing their emotions” says the charity. “It’s a show that makes you think about your own life, how you handle tragedy, what it all means and what’s important to you.

"The show has helped people to stop feeling ashamed or embarrassed about discussing their emotions” they add. “It’s a show that makes you think about your own life, how you handle tragedy, what it all means and what’s important to you.”

Each bench across the country is inscribed with ‘Hope is everything,’ a poingnant quote from the Netflix show which has related to people across the world thanks to its realistic portrayal of dealing with the death of a loved one.

The Exhibition Park bench is the only one of its kind in the North East. Elsewhere there is one each in Glasgow and Edinburgh, one in Manchester, two in Liverpool in addition to a further 19 further south.

As part of the release of the benches, CALM are offering their assistance to anyone struggling to come to terms with feelings of grief. The CALM helpline is open between 5:00am and midnight to anyone in need of support, advice or assistance and can be reached by calling 0800 58 58 58.

The charity also have an online webchat in addition to advice on dealing with grief to read on their website.