We are a Chester based mental health charity offering free, community based counselling and other therapies to adults, children and young people living in relative poverty and experiencing mental health issues. Those living in poverty are at much higher risk of suffering with mental health issues and much less likely to be able to access suitable and timely support to help address these. Many of our clients have suffered significant traumas (often in childhood), abuse and other adversities which shape their life choices and mental wellbeing. Without appropriate support, their mental health problems often worsen, negatively impacting not only their own life chances but if they have or go on to have children, those of the next generation. Covid has exacerbated this situation for many on low incomes and the cost of living crisis is now adding further misery. All of this means more people than ever need help with mental health issues, at a time when NHS primary care mental health services appear completely overloaded and unable to cope with the increased demand.
We work in Blacon and Lache, 2 areas of Chester within the bottom 10% of the Index of Multiple Deprivation and take a holistic approach to the family, recognising that parental trauma and adversity can have a significant impact on children. This means we sometimes work with a parent/carer to affect change for a child. Our focus is on strengthening family relationships and creating more stable and nurturing environments for children. Our goal is to stop the cycle of poor mental health being passed down from one generation to the next and through earlier intervention to stop poor mental health becoming a life-long disability. We know that positive changes to a person’s mental health can have significant benefit for the rest of their family, meaning the impact of our service on people’s lives can be further amplified by 3-4x.
In 2021 we piloted a self- referral project aimed Year 10 and 11 pupils in a local High school. As well as giving pupils increased autonomy, the self-referral option allowed those young people who may have been struggling silently without parent/carer or school being aware, to access help with mental health issues. Feedback from both pupils and the school during the pilot was very positive and support from Pixel Fund allowed us to extend this pilot to more pupils at the school. 19 young people accessed our service via the self-referral route funded by Pixel Fund and counselling sessions were largely delivered in school. A small number of students wanted to continue sessions during school holidays and these were delivered in other local community venues that were easy for them to walk to.
100% of students who accessed our service via the self-referral route, reported improvements in their mental wellbeing and both school and young people provided positive feedback.
“Students really appreciate having that 1:1 time where they can speak to an impartial adult, and can try to work through their difficulties.” High school pastoral team
“I think it was really good to help me what I was struggling with and made me feel more positive that I can do it.” Young person
“It has helped me find ways to cope and be happier and has improved my relationship with myself and others.” Young person
“Platform for Life has helped me so much and I wish I’d known about it sooner.” Young person