The night Tamara first walked through the doors of Hope Haven, a new community mental health hub in the heart of Whitehaven, she was afraid.
asserted
she → walk → Whitehaven
“Terrified, actually,” she says.
asserted
she → say → ?
“Like, my life was falling apart.
asserted
life → fall → ?
I didn’t know how to stop it from hurting.”
asserted
I → know → it
The 22-year-old, who works in children’s transport, had been in and out of therapy and counselling since she was 14, after being abused by an acquaintance as a child.
asserted
she → work → child
After a lengthy legal process her abuser was sentenced, but the “mental challenge” of dealing with what had happened to her was not over.
asserted
what → sentence → her
“I was having a really hard time at home, and my best friend told me that I could go and stay with her for a bit, but I needed to ask for help first, so she dropped me off here at like 11 o’clock at night,” she says.
uncertain
she → have → night
That night was a turning point: Tamara was seen immediately by a member of staff and offered an appointment for the next day.
asserted
Tamara → see → day
She believes that if she hadn’t been offered help at Hope Haven, she would still be at “rock bottom”.
asserted
she → believe → bottom
It offers preventive, open-access care 24/7, meaning people do not need a diagnosis or referral to access its services.
asserted
people → offer → services
Its alternative approach reflects concerns that more traditional NHS services have struggled to improve local wellbeing.
asserted
services → reflect → wellbeing
In its first five months from March to July, about 3,000 people accessed support either digitally or in person.
asserted
people → access → person
Admissions to inpatient mental health wards in the area fell by 24% between January and September compared with the same period last year.
asserted
Admissions → fall → period
After Andy Burnham’s announcement of £343m towards “the biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation” this summer, 100 more are due to open gradually, starting this autumn, with an evaluation of the pilot centres later this year.
asserted
100 → open → centres
The hubs build on the Trieste model of mental health care, a 24-hour holistic approach which started in 1980s Italy.
asserted
which → build → Italy
They offer more than just mental health support, hosting several local services under one roof, from exercise classes to financial advice and housing support.
asserted
They → offer → advice
They also house several short-stay beds, allowing teams to offer overnight support.
asserted
teams → house → support
Nearby, several shops have closed down and sit empty; the market opposite the hub boasts a single stall.
asserted
market → close → stall
The area has one of the highest suicide rates in England, with 20 people per 100,000 dying by suicide, according to NHS Alliance – almost double the national rate.
uncertain
people → have → Alliance
Since 2017, referrals to local mental health services have trebled.
asserted
referrals → treble → services
“Over the years, with the closure of all the factories and the big employers, there’s been very little by way of input into Whitehaven, and I think people have lost hope,” says Vikki Ford-Powell, 53, a staff member at Hope Haven.
asserted
Powell → think → Haven
Sue Papworth, 49, another member of staff, says there are areas of deprivation in and around the town:
asserted
Papworth → say → town
“A lot of people think, oh, you’re in the Lake District, people have got lots of money.
asserted
people → think → money
Josh MacAlister, the Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, praised the work of the centre.
asserted
MacAlister → praise → centre
Our community is really strong and filled with groups, volunteers and connections.
asserted
community → fill → groups
We should be so proud of that,” he said.
asserted
he → say → that
“But it can be hard to ask for help in such a tight community and when mental health services are far away.
asserted
services → ask → community
“Our high rates of suicides are extremely concerning and a source of deep pain for so many friends and families who’ve lost people.
asserted
who → lose → people
That’s why Hope Haven has been so warmly welcomed and the early signs are positive.
asserted
signs → ’ → ?
Having a walk-in, low-stigma service that offers a range of help could prove to be a big part of the solution.”
uncertain
that → have → solution
Hope Haven offers support for people regardless of their mental health history.
asserted
Haven → offer → history
Gordy, 47, originally from Scotland, has struggled with alcohol addiction and was on antidepressants for four and a half years.
asserted
Gordy → struggle → years
Since engaging with services at Hope Haven, he has been able to come off them.
asserted
he → engage → them
He says the one-to-one, non-judgmental support has meant he is now able to walk in public without being terrified.
asserted
he → say → public
“You’re not a barcode here,” he says.
asserted
he → ’re → ?
“Suicide’s massive around here, and this is direct, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
asserted
this → ’ → ?
Another regular at Hope Haven is Mary Bragg, 91, who lost her husband seven years ago and lives alone.
asserted
who → lose → husband
She attends a weekly chair-based exercise class at Hope Haven and has made friends through the hub.
asserted
She → attend → hub
“I’m a lot happier now in myself,” she says.
asserted
she → ’m → myself
“I just love the company.”
asserted
I → love → company
The Aporia
