A BRAND new mental health service is being rolled out to support residents with anxiety, depression and loneliness.
Buckinghamshire Mind, in partnership with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has launched a new programme to mental health services across Bracknell, Ascot, Windsor, Maidenhead and Slough.
The Friends in Need peer support group provides support for people with mental health issues.
However, two new peer support groups for young adults and those with significant mental health support needs will be launched.
READ MORE: More mental health referrals for new mothers in east Berkshire
One Friends in Need member said: "Coming to FiN has given me back my self-confidence, got rid of my feelings of worthlessness and given my self-esteem a boost."
The group has been helping people with mental health needs in East Berkshire for a number of years, providing support to members by helping them manage their depression and anxiety by trying to uplifting, fun and free of charge activities.
Pic by Pexels
It comes after latest figures show more new or expectant mothers were in contact with east Berkshire’s mental health services in January than before the pandemic, figures show.
The mental health support service should offer support to new mums between the 17 and 25-year's-old.
The service will also be open to people with mild to moderate mental health support needs, offering a timetable shaped by and tailored to younger members.
The group can be accessed via self-referral or through a mental health professional.
ALSO READ: Bracknell's new ice rink Ozone reveals opening date
A Support, Time and Recovery Service has also been set up in partnership with Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust to help residents in Windsor and Maidenhead to develop a six month bespoke support plan.
The support plan will be based on the mental health recovery star to support clients referred from the Community Mental Health Team, Adult Social Care and MHICS.
Andrea McCubbin, chief executive of Buckinghamshire Mind, said: "We are looking forward to working in partnership with BHFT and the RBWM to deliver the new Support Time and Recovery Service. Together we will be able to support more local people experiencing a mental health problem."
Visit: bucksmind.org.uk/peer-support-groups/friends-in-need for more information.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here