Photo: A comfortable bed at YMCA Kensington City Centre Bootle (Image: Sarah Glynn Photograph) (Image: Sarah Glynn Photograph)
Submitted by Danielle Baldwin
A North West charity which offers 24 hour support for people suffering mental health difficulties, seven days a week, is encouraging people in need to seek help this World Mental Health Day (October 10).
YMCA Together has supported almost 200 people through its dedicated wellbeing and mental services in the last 12 months and encourages others to seek help.
The organisation, formerly known as YMCA Liverpool and Sefton, works with Merseycare to deliver a crucial service through Stepping Stones, which provides nine beds of accommodation and support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week for people in mental health crisis.
In addition, YMCA Together recently opened a second dedicated mental health service, Nightingale House.
In the twelve months since the service opened, 29 people across Sefton, Liverpool and Kirkby, Merseyside, have been supported through this facility, which offers 20 beds of accommodation for those coming out of hospital following a mental health admission.
Chief Executive of YMCA Together Ellie McNeil said:
“We offer an open, welcoming and inclusive service for those struggling with mental health. Of those using our service, 90% have been supported in successfully moving on, settling back into the community in a sustainable and planned way.
“We understand that everyone can experience times of crisis and with one in four people affected by mental health issues, we want to create services to support people through challenging times. World Mental Health Day allows us to raise awareness of the work that we do as a charity while having those important discussions as a society to give people the confidence to speak out and get the right support for them. We work in a psychologically informed way to consider the needs of each individual, working directly with them in line with their values and in a way that is unique to their needs. This has enabled us to work alongside people to create a positive future for those coming through our doors, often leading to full-time accommodation of their own.”
The charity, which is celebrating its 175-year milestone in 2021, helps over a thousand people each year across a range of services supporting homelessness, domestic abuse, childcare and substance use issues.
YMCA Together looks to expand its mental health provisions in the future with the aim to work across the Merseyside region and the North West.
Ellie added:
“We recognise the essential need for mental health services in the region and we’re working tirelessly to offer the best support we can, which means we’re also looking to extend our current services to help even more people. Particularly in the last 12 months, mental health has impacted so many in light of the pandemic, but it’s always been prevalent. There are still so many people that aren’t receiving the proper care, treatment and help that they need and this World Mental Health Day it’s our message to encourage them to seek the support they need”.
For more information on YMCA Together visit the website here.
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