A new mental health service has helped hundreds of people in its first three months, organisers say.
The Bothy in Ashington provides support to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis in Northumberland and does not require a referral from a GP..
The so-called “safe haven” has seen 158 people use its services since April 1 and is the first of its kind in the North East, according to Northumberland County Council.
Pasha Tanriverdi, head of development at Everyturn Mental Health, which runs the service, said user numbers had been “increasing every month”.
The project, which runs daily from 2pm to 10pm, is supported by the county council and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
Northumberland County Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, Wendy Pattison, said she was concerned about residents suffering from mental health problems, anxiety and depression following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I came across an article online about safe havens in East Sussex by chance. I thought it was amazing that people could go into a safe haven and get counselling from mental health professionals without having to be referred by a doctor,” she said.
“We have the first safe haven in the North East here in Northumberland. It’s absolutely phenomenal and I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Jane Walker, director of mental health for Northumberland and North Tyneside at the ICB, called the service “important” for people who have been “left out of the service gap”.
“The services offer support to people who identify as being in crisis, but who don’t meet the threshold for traditional crisis services,” she said.
Ms Walker added that it also relieved “pressure” on other services.
