A STOURPORT woman is starting up a friendship group to provide support for depression sufferers.

Sarah Neal has battled with depression for 15 years and hopes to help other sufferers by sharing her own experiences.

The new group, called Friends in Stourport, will meet once a month at Areley Kings Village Hall.

Miss Neal said: “I don’t want the group to sit around in a circle. I want to get people out and about to aid their recovery and I want to show other people what I did.

“I’m going to ask the group what they would like to do, such as ‘would they like to go on a walk with my dog?’ My dog Willow was a big part of my recovery.”

The 33-year-old moved to Areley Kings last year from Sussex, where she attended a friendship group for depression sufferers.

She added: “I was ill last year, it suddenly came to ahead. It was really good to share experiences but we were sat around in a circle and it got a little bit depressing.

“I moved up here last year, I had a look around for groups and couldn’t find any.”

The group, which will be supported by the charity Depression Alliance, will have its first session on Thursday, August 1 and on the first Thursday of the month after that from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Depression Alliance is a UK charity for people with depression, it works to relieve and prevent the treatable condition by providing information and support services to those who are affected.

Miss Neal hopes that if the group is successful, she could set up Friends in Kidderminster and Friends in Bewdley groups.

The sessions are free for anybody aged 18 and over who is suffering with depression.

If interested in attending the group email friendsinstourport@gmail.com