‘HIGHLY RECOMMENDED' WARWICKSHIRE SAFE HAVENS - A DROP IN FOR ANYONE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
6 September 2019
Warwickshire County Council (WCC), in partnership with Mental Health Matters (MHM) launched a new service called Warwickshire Safe Havens on 1 July 2019.
Safe Havens is an evening drop in service for people aged 16 and over who may feel distressed, worried or in need of mental health support. The service, provided in Leamington Spa and Nuneaton, provides out of hours face-to-face and telephone support for Warwickshire residents experiencing mental distress.
To mark the opening of Warwickshire Safe Havens and to raise further awareness, the council would like to invite professionals across Warwickshire to an open day to get a chance to meet the team, find out more about the service and learn how they can promote the service amongst colleagues, other professionals, the wider community and anyone who they feel would benefit from the service.
There will be two open days taking place at Warwickshire Safe Haven centres:
- Tuesday, September 10 ,2019, 6pm-8pm Safe Haven @ Leamington Spa, 4&6 Clemens Street, Leamington Spa CV31 2DL
- Thursday, September 12, 2019, 6pm-8pm, Safe Haven @ Nuneaton, The Newtown Centre, Newtown Rd, Nuneaton CV11 4HG
Safe Havens work is focused on reducing immediate distress and supporting people to access community services and activities. The drop-ins allow people to come along simply for a cup of tea and a chat, or to access one-to-one emotional support from trained mental health professionals. Safe Havens also helps people to stay well and develop skills to manage crisis as well as signposting to other services and organisations that may be useful to them. Users of Safe Haven can also have access to a 24-hour telephone emotional support line staffed by trained counsellors.
Since the launch of Safe Havens in July, MHM have received very positive feedback about the service. In particular one visitor said: “I contacted Safe Haven with regards to my daughter who was struggling with her mental health and the service was amazing!
“The mental health professional spoke to my daughter over the phone and persuaded her to come to an evening drop in. The staff were just lovely, they chatted to me whilst my daughter was speaking to another member of staff about the problems she was struggling to cope with. I would recommend the service to anyone in need!”
Councillor Les Caborn, portfolio holder for adult social care and health, added: "Warwickshire Safe Havens is a fantastic initiative which supports anyone who is feeling distressed, frightened or overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to turn to get mental health support.
“I would like to personally encourage anyone who is having these feelings to visit a Safe Haven in Nuneaton or Leamington for a welcoming, non-judgmental and non-clinical environment to get the support they need.
“No appointment or referral is needed to visit a Safe Haven – people can walk in any time during opening hours – and carers and family members are also welcome.”
MHM would like to welcome as many professionals as possible to the upcoming open days to keep on spreading the word about Warwickshire Safe Havens and to encourage those in need to seek support and utilise the service.
Warwickshire County Council have commissioned the service from Mental Health Matters on behalf of the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System.
If you or someone you know is struggling with your mental health you can contact Warwickshire Safe Haven using the details below:
- For Warwickshire Safe Haven @ Nuneaton call 07887 627524 or email them at warwickshiresafehaven@mhm.org.uk
- To contact the Warwickshire Safe Haven @ Leamington Spa call 07483 991763 or email them at warwickshiresafehaven@mhm.org.uk
Calls and emails at both locations are monitored between 6pm-11pm.
For further information on the service visit https://www.mhm.org.uk/pages/search.aspx?q=warwickshire%20safe%20havens.