Date published: 19 January 2023
Students are set to benefit from new funding received by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and St Helens College to improve mental health services in the area.
The Trust aims to help 18 to 25-year-old students with staff from Mersey Care’s Think Wellbeing NHS Talking Therapy service in St Helens having already provided training to St Helens College staff on mental health and resilience, anxiety and depression.
During the pandemic, Mersey Care provided anxiety, depression and resilience training for students via recorded videos. Online groups will launch this month followed by one-to-one online clinics for students who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression.
Clinical Psychologist at Mersey Care, Doctor Samantha Fitzpatrick, said: “As expected over the Christmas period, referrals were quieter than usual and now the service wants to focus on helping people in St Helens get into treatment very quickly.
“Anyone over 16 who is struggling with low mood, anxiety and stress can contact us to access support, the quicker they can be seen the sooner they will recover. Our aim is to help you change the way you feel by changing the way you think.”
Pictured: Steven Simpson (right), from Mersey Care’s Talking Therapies service, with Jeanine Williams from St Helens college.
Principal of St Helens College, Simon Pierce, said: “Positive mental health and wellbeing is a critical success factor to our students achieving their full potential at College, as we prepare them for their chosen careers. We are wholeheartedly committed to ensuring all our students and apprentices have the right support in place to enable them to be successful in work and life.
“Working with the Mersey Care service has provided an invaluable opportunity for our students to receive mental health training including wider access to local support services, and our College wellbeing team have already greatly benefitted from bespoke training to enhance the dedicated support we already provide.”
Think Wellbeing, NHS Talking Therapy offers free, easy to access flexible therapy for all people registered with a St Helens GP with common mental health problems such as anxiety, stress or depression. The service can be contacted on 01744 647100 and more information about the service can be found on their webpage.