New mental health facility now a 'place of belonging' after £500k overhaul

The Children and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) centre for Wigan and Leigh has been transformed from a tired old building to a to a centre with a ‘sense of belonging’.

The Helping Hands Centre in Ince, run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), now boasts a brand new sensory room, therapeutic areas and treatment rooms thanks to a £500,000 overhaul. The unit supports young people up to the age of 18 who live in the borough and are experiencing mental health problems which may be causing difficulties in their school, family or social life.

The service works together with young people alongside their families, schools and people who know them best, to assess and co-develop a plan to help improve and manage their mental health.

Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features

During a tour of the new facility, the Local Democracy Reporting Service were told how over the course of three months, GMMH created a new sensory room, increased floor space to enhance therapeutic areas, remodelled treatment rooms and staff offices and created a staff changing area with showers for those who cycle to work. The idea behind this was to ensure young people are receiving mental health care and treatment in the best environment possible, and that they can feel that when they walk in.

Amanda Brown, director of operations at GMMH, said: “I think it gives the opportunity for a more welcoming environment for our children and young people with their families, to come through the door. It is a sense of identity, a sense of place and a sense of belonging which is why it is vital that Wigan and Leigh is represented there.

“The service is vital for early intervention. The