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Cafe opens up to the lonely

Cafe opens up to the lonely

Northern Beaches cafe owner Guy Morel is hosting an "Orphan's Christmas" to combat loneliness over the festive season.

He says it's something that's close to his heart, having spent Christmas alone in 2018 and 2019 after he attempted to take his own life in 2018.

Mr Morel, owner of The Mind Cafe in Narrabeen, said the festive season is hard if you're doing it tough, adding that "it's an extra reminder when you wake up and you don't have anywhere to go" on Christmas Day.

"I remember waking up on Christmas morning and just feeling a sense of loneliness, a sense of maybe being a bit worthless as well," he said.

"If I had known there was something that was within distance for me, I would have definitely went and then had that ability to have human connection with people on the day, and to be able to empathise with other people and just get yourself out of there." Between 7am and 9am, Mr Morel and a team of volunteers will welcome people in for free coffee and "as much food as possible" from their suppliers.

Suicide prevention charity MoWaNa Safe Space will take over the space from 11am, putting on a Christmas lunch and dinner.

Australian Psychological Society's Dr Catriona DavisMcCabe said psychologists and emergency departments often see a "spike in activity during the holiday period".
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