The number of people attending A&E for self-harm and mental health related reasons in West Cumbria has dropped since the opening of a new walk-in mental health centre.

Hope Haven has been operating since January, with the King Street site officially opening in March, allowing people to receive the help they need without an appointment. 

In that time the amount of admissions to adult acute inpatient wards in the area have gone down by nearly 24%, according to figures shared with ITV News by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear (CNTW) NHS Foundation Trust. 

And between January and May, people attending West Cumberland Hospital for self-harm reasons dropped by 30%, while people coming for mental health related reasons dropped by 15%.

“The impact we’ve had on the community is massive”, said Senior Client Service Manager Ellie O’Grady. “We are still seeing really high footfall. Consistently we see about 30 people in a day.”

Ellie O’Grady is a Senior Client Service Manager based at Hope Haven Credit: ITV Border

She continued: “The hope is there’s a Hope Haven on every high street. We see the work that we’re doing here and the positive impact that it’s having.

“We really hope that this can be replicated across the country.”

The space brings a range of support under one roof, including mental health support, advice on money and work and help tackling drug and drinking problems. 

Recovering addict Anthony McCourt is just one of 2,942 people have received support through Hope Haven since March. 

Having initially received short-term residential care, he is now working through a 12-step program with the support team. 

Recovering addict Anthony McCourt says Hope Haven “saved my life” Credit: ITV Border

He said: “I relapsed early last year and then I ended up getting arrested for my behaviour to drink and drugs. And then I got sectioned from the cells and tried to top myself in the cells.

“It was game over for me. In my head, I didn’t want to be alive, you know? And with them [Hope Haven] has given a purpose, you know, to keep in touch, to make us feel like I am somebody.

“They made me feel like I needed to be alive and was worth being alive… The support of everything is unbelievable really.”

The aim at Hope Haven is to create an accessible support space for everyone.

Of the people who have received support here since March, a quarter had not engaged with CNTW’s NHS mental health services before. 

“I originally got brought down here by a police officer that had been sent out to do a welfare check on my flat”, said Andrew Dixon, who was initially sceptical about the service. 

Andrew Dixon was initially skeptical about the service Credit: ITV Border

He continued: “I’ve been to various mental health services. Hope Haven is my last hope. 

“This place has opened the door for me rather than go and ask for help through other services where you might see somebody once or twice.”

Hope Haven is one of six neighbourhood mental health centres that have been rolled nationwide by NHS England as part of an initial pilot. 

The government has already announced plans for 100 more community mental health facilities across the country, including a new centre in North Cumbria, though plans for this are in the early stages. 

How to get help if you are struggling with your mental health

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – Helpline: 0800 58 58 58

MIND provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. Information line: 0300 123 3393

Samaritans is an organisation offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Phone 116 123 (a free 24 hour helpline).

Shout is a 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone struggling to cope and in need of immediate help. Text SHOUT to 85258

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