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Oct 2020

Last Updated: 02/10/2020

Community

Harrogate Mind increases services as demand for support grows

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 02 Oct, 2020

The charity is offering more services as demand increases. Concerns such as health, finances and loneliness are some of the common anxieties the charity is hearing about.

A charity offering counselling and befriending services in Harrogate has said it has seen an increase in demand - and is boosting its services in response.

Mind in Harrogate has raised concerns over the impact of tighter covid restriction on people's health.

As well as returning clients, the charity has received more calls from the public seeking advice and counselling. Common anxieties the charity is seeing include how the pandemic will affect people's health, the impact on jobs and personal finances, and loneliness and isolation.

In response, new services including a befriending initiative and out-of-hours mental health service have begun in recent months.

Its telephone and online counselling sessions are continuing but, now, face to face counselling can take place too.

Tina Chamberlain, chief executive officer of Mind in the Harrogate district, said:

"I think it is becoming obvious that this pandemic will be around for a long time and the changes to people's lives will mean people will need more support than ever.

"We have now started offering the counselling service face to face, as well as via Zoom and telephone, and we are getting an increasing number of calls from people needing this service.

"With winter coming, it all seems a bit bleak. For many of our service users loneliness and isolation are major factors in their mental state and so it is a worry."

Another Harrogate charity reports an increase in counselling requests.

A Ripon-based dementia charity has warned on the impact of a second lockdown on its patients.

On Monday, the charity will begin to offer its befriending service. It will match volunteer befrienders with people who would benefit from community-based support, such as help with shopping and social meetings.

Tina added:

"Loneliness and isolation are a big factor in mental health and many people lack the confidence to make the social connections they need so the service is a way of facilitating that. We have had many people registering for the service.

"We are looking to offer this across the district as we know that rural isolation and lack of access to services means that people in, for example, Pateley Bridge, Masham and Boroughbridge struggle to get the support they need."

An out-of-hours support service has also been launched, enabling people to visit the Acorn Centre on weekend evenings until 11.30pm. It offers emotional support as well as signposting and referrals to other services for people experiencing mental distress.

The service can be accessed by calling 01423 647216 or emailing ooh@mindinharrogate.org.uk.

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Harrogate Mind increases services as demand for support grows

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