Early Access to Mental Health Support

Are you living with poor mental health? Would you like to know how you can manage your mental health and learn resilience?

Residents can now get free Early Access to Mental Health support, right here across West Cheshire.

Funded by Cheshire West and Chester Council along with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership, a new Mental Health programme of support is being run by local charities Mid Cheshire Mind and Chapter Mental Health. The programme is designed to provide early intervention and prevention to people with poor mental health.

The new programme of support has been co-produced by professionals along with people with lived experience of poor mental health. The conversations consisted of one big question: What are the issues affecting people’s mental health in your community? Through a series of workshops and conversations this new early intervention support was formed.

Some of the people with lived experience commented:

“In the situation I went through, I didn't feel like I was a human being but now I feel like I'm human and I'm living. Thank you I'll never forget your important words. Thank you to Chapter Mental Health”

“My advisor was amazing! She is very informative and helpful about the services and aid provided and is so caring and understanding so it was like a treat to be going to talk to her on my appointments. Everyone in the Winsford Mind branch were so welcoming and friendly so it was just nice to walk into the building and feel the friendly atmosphere and be greeting with a happy hello from everyone!”

The charities, who span the whole of West Cheshire, will be focussing on wellbeing coaching and helping people to become more resilient and able to cope with poor mental health. This approach is about equipping people with the tools they need to recognise when they are struggling with their mental health and know how to manage it so that they can live great lives and avoid crisis. There is evidence that in some cases, this approach can remove the need for formal intervention or more invasive therapies.

There is no need for a referral, you can simply get in touch with someone directly by contacting the charity in your area:

• Mid Cheshire Mind – Winsford, Northwich ETC….
• Chapter Mental Health – Chester, Ellesmere Port, Neston

Quote from Kate Boundy, Chief Executive Officer from Mid Cheshire Mind added:

‘The funding we have received allows us to offer a coaching wellbeing programme which has already supported a wide range of local people. Our offer is really flexible. As well as offering appointments at our Winsford hub and remotely online or via phone we are also active in local communities and are currently supporting local residents in Frodsham. If your mental health is holding you back from enjoying every day life why not get in touch with our friendly team to find out if coaching could be suitable for you”.

Quote from Jolene Weaver, Chief Executive Officer, from Chapter Mental Health said

“We have been working in the local area for over 30 years and know that the Early Help programme will deliver much needed 1:1 support to people when they need it most. We are excited to be working in partnership with the local authority and local health providers to ensure that people can get help with their mental health quickly and close to where they live.”

To complement this offer, the Council have also provided grants to organisations in the voluntary sector for the provision of time specific mental health courses to help coach and provide new skills for people with lived experience. To find out more about the courses on offer see the prospectus HERE.

On Wednesday 29 January there will be a launch event taking place at Mid Cheshire Mind, 21 Dingle Walk, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 1BA, from 1.30pm.

If you would like to find out more about the charities, hear from people they have supported and learn more about how they can help you, pop along and see them.