A NEW high street centre supporting people with mental health challenges has opened in Bridgwater.

The Fore Street hub is part of the innovative Open Mental Health alliance between the NHS in Somerset and a number of voluntary sector organisations ensuring people with mental health difficulties get the right support at the right time.

Helen Surridge, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust’s operational service manager for the Bridgwater and Minehead community mental health service, said the hub has been developed as a community base where patients can be seen for a range of mental health appointments.

She added: “Just some of the many services available at the hub include psycho-education groups for sleep hygiene, food and mood, and general health and wellbeing education.

“People can access the hub either via their GP, another healthcare practitioner, or via a self-introduction.

"Depending on a person’s needs, support would then be provided either by the NHS or by one of the wide range of third sector partners, including, for example, Citizen’s Advice, Age UK Somerset or Second Step, a community mental health charity.

“We also have a section for group sessions, which can be of real benefit to some people, as well as a series of consultation rooms where people can be seen by mental healthcare professionals on a one-to-one basis.

“The group room, in particular, will be of huge benefit as there is limited space in the local area for face-to-face group sessions, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic as we had to limits the number of people that were allowed in a room together and some buildings changed their use altogether.”

Staff from Somerset FT and the Open Mental Health alliance worked closely with a number of experts who’ve had experience of mental health or homelessness services to get their ideas.

Ms Surridge added: “With a number of people who need housing or homelessness services, in particular, being unable to drive or not have access to a vehicle, being right in the middle of town means the hub is easily accessible to them.

“It will also be handy for NHS trust and Open Mental Health Alliance colleagues, who will have access to general hot desking facilities to prepare for appointments or write up notes afterwards.”

Jane Yeandle, Somerset FT’s service director for mental health and learning disabilities, said: “This development is all part of our endeavour to support access and early interventions for people struggling with mental health challenges.

"We look forward to further developing the venue in the forthcoming months.”

Aileen Edwards, chief executive of Second Step, said: "The opening of the Fore Street Hub will expand the options available for people in Bridgwater and beyond to receive immediate in-person mental health support.

"This is hugely important at a time when people are struggling and we’re in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

“We’re confident that by valuing the lived experience of our staff and volunteers, and through working with our experts by experience, we’ve created a uniquely supportive and responsive safe space.”