A pilot community mental health hub is to open in York this month – inspired by a pioneering model in the northern Italian city of Trieste and supported by our Trust.
The trial hub is part of York Mental Health Partnership’s vision of support for adults across the city and, if successful, will help change the way people are able to access mental health services.
Dr Roberto Mezzina, former Director of Trieste Mental Health Department and WHO Collaborating Centre, said:
“This has the potential to promote a deeper system transformation, which is the overall aim for mental health services in York.”
Pilot model inspired by Italian project
The current hub based at 30 Clarence Street in York will be open to all as usual from Monday, October 24 – providing listening ear and signposting services.
Alongside this regular service, however, a small group of identified service users and staff will take part in the three-month pilot hub trial.
The hub has been co-designed by members of the Connecting Our City project, with support from people with lived experience, their families, and professionals from partner organisations.
Those organisations include York Mind, York CVS, York Carers Centre, Primary Care and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) – as well as teams from across the city council.
Cllr Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “Realising the ambition of the York Mental Health Partnership to open this prototype is an exciting step.
“People with lived experience are making a crucial contribution to this prototype hub, in terms of co-designing, testing and analysing it.
“I welcome their and our partners’ involvement, and I look forward to hearing the feedback on how this prototype hub performs and on the proposed refinements.”
Planning for the future
A new multi-agency team will be based at the prototype hub during the scheme, which will offer and provide interventions and support “as appropriate” to those taking part in the pilot.
Feedback from participants on their experience, ease of service and outcomes will then help refine and shape future delivery options for mental health services across York in the future.
David Kerr, Community Mental Health Transformation and Programme Delivery Lead at TEWV said:
“I am delighted that people with lived experience of mental health issues have played such a major role in helping to create such an innovative hub which will really meet local needs.
“We want to ensure that the people of York are offered the help and support they need, and feedback from pilot participants will ensure we can offer the right services at the right time.
“This is an amazing opportunity for York, and the people of York, to get involved in shaping the future of mental health services. TEWV is delighted to be a part of this.”
** Regular drop-in services at 30 Clarence Street will continue during the pilot scheme. Evening face-to-face support and virtual sessions will run on weekdays from 6-10pm and at weekends from 2-10pm.
The evening and weekend support will continue to be commissioned by Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership from Mental Health Matters, and residents who require support can call 07483 141 310 or email [email protected].
