Coffee is guaranteed to perk you up - but what about if it came with an extra splash of positivity too?
That's the goal of Newcastle coffee stall 'Chin Up', owned by Darlington-born student Jim Keough.
The venture, which is often seen outside Jesmond metro station, aims to destigmatise mental health issues by encouraging customers to speak about their problems over a cup of coffee.
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Jim, 25, explained: "I used to struggle quite severely with my own mental health, and I always found it helpful going out and speaking to barristas or even strangers in coffee shops, it got me out of my shell.
"Those small interactions are really undervalued, they can mean an awful lot to people when they are in a bad place.
"And with the van, we try to be even more proactive than that, actively signposting services and asking people how they are doing."
Jim moved to Newcastle aged 18 to go to university, but "struggling to thrive" he dropped out.
He said that "knowing how it feels to be at your lowest" means that he "never pushes anyone to speak".
But now he is back at Northumbria University studying psychology and as a qualified mental health first aider, he is well trained to get people to open up about difficult topics.
'Chin Up Coffee' is also known for its pay-it-forward scheme, which allows people to buy a discounted coffee for a future customer.
Jim explained: "It's a bit of fun which means people feel less alone. It lets people know that there's caring people out there willing to support you.
"We give the buyer a cup and they are free to sign or draw a picture, we've had some really lovely stuff. And then we shuffle them randomly into our stack."
He said the scheme has received a "fantastic response", especially among students who are "feeling sad about being away from their families."
"There's even been tears before," he said.
Jim says 15% of Chin Up's profits also go to local groups and charities. Vinnies foodbank in Byker, for instance, was recently selected for a donation.
Jim bought the van in 2018 and spent all his spare money getting the business off the ground so he could begin trading last March.
Since then, he's built a rappor with people in the area, with many coming back to speak about "life-crippling" situations.
"It's proving very popular and we are being invited to more and more events, and I think that's because we've created a safe-space where people can chat unjudged," he said.
At the moment, owing to his degree, Jim does not have a set schedule, but he can generally be found outside the metro station from weekday mornings from 6am.
He hopes to make it a full-time thing after completing his studies.
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