Plugging a gap in North Somerset

Local charity Second Step is launching a new mental health service in North Somerset tomorrow, 10 October, World Mental Health Day. The charity promises the new North Somerset Wellbeing Service will fill a gap in current mental health provision with its recovery-focused activities.

Since July 2018, Second Step, which runs the successful Bristol Wellbeing College, has delivered drop-ins in Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare following a process managed by the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and North Somerset Council.

Working with existing clients, the new service is now ready to offer a tailored programme of workshops, courses and activities, including Wellbeing Cafés to new as well as existing clients. The service will open for new referrals from October 15.

Service Manager Hannah Young said: “We’re delighted to be marking World Mental Health Day in this special way. We’ve been working closely with people who have been using the service and our volunteers to make sure our new programme of activities fits their needs.”

The new service is for people with mental health problems who need more support than they can get from their GP, and also aims to reduce the need to use secondary mental health services (consultants and specialists), as well as supporting people back to live in the community from mental health hospital units.

Clients are marking World Mental Health Day on 10 October with a dawn dip in Clevedon’s Marine Lake, and practising mindfulness at sunset on Clevedon Pier. Events include:

• Wellbeing Café session at Friends Meeting House, High Street, Weston from 1pm – 3pm
• Dawn Dip, Clevedon Marine Lake at 6.25am
• Ways to Wellbeing, Weston Museum, 10.30am – 11.45am
• Sunset guided mindfulness, Clevedon Pier, 6.15pm – 6.45pm
• Wellbeing Lantern Walk, Clevedon Pier, 6.45pm – 7pm

Notes to Editors

• For more information, please call PR & Communications Manager Jane Edmonds on 07841 777401 or email jane.edmonds@second-step.co.uk
• People can be referred to the North Somerset Wellbeing Service by their GP or they can self-refer. To refer or to find out more about the service, please contact Hannah Young on 0333 023 3504 or email NSWellbeing@second-step.co.uk.
• North Somerset has higher than average numbers of people diagnosed with mental health problems and higher rates of suicide and self-harm.
• Mental health hospital admissions have risen over recent years and it is well known that the transition back to life in the community is difficult after a hospital stay.
• People with mental health problems are more likely to face problems with physical activity, employment, finance and isolation.
• People using mental health support services in Clevedon and Weston faced further difficulties in the summer as these services came under the threat of closure. The Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group managed a process with North Somerset Council which brought Second Step in to continue drop-in and support services.