A new mental health service in Ashington, named The Bothy, has provided critical support to hundreds of individuals in its first three months of operation, according to organizers.
The Bothy offers assistance to anyone experiencing a mental health crisis in Northumberland without requiring a GP referral. Since its opening on April 1, the “safe-haven” has served 158 people and is noted as the first of its kind in the North East by Northumberland County Council.
Pasha Tanriverdi, head of development at Everyturn Mental Health, the organization running the service, reported a steady increase in the number of users each month.
The Bothy operates daily from 14:00 to 22:00 and is supported by the county council and the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW). People can visit The Bothy in person or connect online for a listening ear, help with arranging appointments, or to develop a safety plan, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Wendy Pattison, Northumberland County Council cabinet member for adult social care, expressed her concern about residents suffering from mental health issues, anxiety, and depression following the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I discovered an article about safe havens in East Sussex and thought they were incredible. People can walk into a safe haven and get advice from mental health professionals without needing a doctor’s referral,” she said.
Pattison emphasized the significance of having the first safe haven in the North East located in Northumberland. “It is absolutely phenomenal and I can’t thank everyone enough,” she added.
Jane Walker, head of mental health for Northumberland and North Tyneside at the Integrated Care Board (ICB), described the service as “important” for individuals who “fall through the gap in services.”
“The services offer support to people who identify as being in crisis but don’t meet the threshold for traditional crisis services,” Walker said. She also noted that it helps reduce the “pressure” on other services.
