Teen mental health 'safe haven' expands
BBCA mental health centre for teenagers has expanded to a second site because of increasing demand.
The Nook, based at the Beacon Centre in Westgate Road, Newcastle, opened in April, and offers a walk-in counselling service providing support for relationship and family issues.
Now the two-year pilot project, which is being funded by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, has opened a second centre at Regent Terrace in Gateshead.
Nineteen-year-old Molly, from Newcastle, helped to design the new facility and used to struggle to leave the house because of anxiety. She said often young people just needed "someone to listen" to them and not a "solution" to their problems.
She said her anxiety started when she was about seven.
"It was mainly a phobia of sickness," she said.
"It would affect me in so many different ways so it would mean I wouldn't really want to leave the house."
Molly said her life was going well now, but hoped the mental health drop-in centre would help others.
"Sometimes you don't need a solution right there and then - just someone to listen so you can offload."
Non-profit Everyturn Mental Health runs the centre, along with another charity Children North East.
Strategy and development director at Everyturn, Pasha Tanriverdi, said trained staff were on hand at the centre.
"It's a mental health safe haven for young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis or distress and it's a safe place for young people to come to off the street."
Both centres are for young people aged between 13 and 17, and 18 if in full-time education.
The Newcastle hub offers support on Monday to Thursday between 16:00 and 20:00, and at Gateshead at the same times between Friday and Sunday.