Washington Mind appeals for community help to fund mobile mental health support as demand surges during lockdown

Mental health charity Washington Mind is appealing for donations to fund a van to provide the whole of the city with mental health support directly at events, in future, as well in schools and workplaces.

With the mobile service, the charity hopes to send its mental health practitioners out into the community, to provide emotional support, advice and information to those who need it.

Washington Mind is aiming to raise £22,000 for the van with a multi disciplinary team targeting young people and their families as well as attending national campaigns related to themes around adult mental health such as World Mental health Day, World Suicide Prevention Day.

Youth Worker at Washington Mind, Lisa Wilson Riddell, said: “Since the Coronavirus outbreak we have already seen a huge additional demand on our service with our counselling and community teams supporting existing clients and many new ones.

“More than ever it is important to be out and about in the community reaching the most hard to reach”

Washington Mind is a local charity with a history going back almost 40 years and is based at ‘The Life House’ on Grasmere Terrace.

They offer services to support people in achieving their goals and work within the community to combat the stigma around mental health.

Anyone interested in donating towards the Washington Mind Community outreach van and finding out more can do so at this link.

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