18/12/2025
✨Mental Health and Kindness this Christmas ✨️
As we move towards the festive season, we wanted to take a moment to talk about something that is often at the forefront of our work, and has been felt ever more strongly and over the last few years.
Mental health.
Across the whole Coastguard community,
we have seen a significant rise in incidents where someone is struggling emotionally, mentally, or simply finding themselves at a point where they don’t know where else to turn.
Sadly these callouts now far outweigh the slips and trips typically associated with coastal emergencies.
We can’t and won’t share details of the jobs we attend, but we can say this - the coast isn’t always the place people come to walk the dog or enjoy the view. Sometimes it’s where they come when life feels too heavy. And when that happens, our team, along with our partners in the RNLI, Police, Ambulance, and other services, will always do everything we can to bring them home safely.
Behind every callout is a person. Someone’s family. Someone’s friend. Someone who might have been trying their best for far longer than anyone realised. And behind every response are volunteers, your neighbours, friends, and colleagues, who step out into the night hoping they reach someone in time, and who carry the weight of these moments long after the pagers stop.
So as the festive season approaches, a time that can be wonderful for some and painfully difficult for others , we want to gently remind everyone of something simple but powerful:
💙 Kindness travels further than you think.
A small message to check in.
A quiet conversation without judgement.
A door left open.
A listening ear.
A moment of patience for someone who seems “a bit off.”
💙 These things matter. More than most of us ever know.
You don’t need to “fix” anything.
Sometimes just showing up, even imperfectly, is enough.
And if you are the one struggling, or you’re carrying something that feels heavier in winter, please know this:
You are not alone.
You are not a burden.
And there are people, here in this community and beyond it, who would rather hear your voice at 2am than learn that you tried to cope silently.
If you or someone you know needs urgent support, please reach out.
Whether that’s by calling 999 in an emergency, speaking with your GP, connecting with mental health services, or confiding in someone you trust.
Taking that first step is an act of courage, not weakness.
Here are some confidential support options available anytime:
Samaritans – 116 123 (free, 24/7)
If you need someone to listen without judgement.
Shout Text Line – Text SHOUT to 85258
For immediate support by text, 24/7.
Mind – mind.org.uk
Resources, guidance, and support for a wide range of mental health concerns.
NHS 111
For urgent advice if you’re not sure where to turn.
Our coast is beautiful, but it can also be unforgiving.
Our community is strong, but none of us are meant to carry everything alone.
So this winter, let’s look after each other a little more.
Let’s give kindness and less judgement.
Let’s notice the people who might feel unseen.
And let’s remember that behind every door, every family, every friend group, every team someone might be quietly fighting a battle they never intended to fight.
With compassion,
Your Mablethorpe Coastguard Rescue Team 💙
Thank you to Whitby Coastguard for opening up this topic with their original post.
Always here 24hrs, 365 days a year.
