New teenage mental health facility

A NEW teenage mental health facility is set to open in Warrington serving the whole of the North West.
Fairhaven Young People’s Unit, a specialist in-patient mental health facility for teenage children and young people, will officially open on July 9.
The facility provides a welcoming atmosphere, with bright and airy decoration and is designed to be a ‘home away from home.’
Service users were closely involved with the design of the unit, training for staff and their feedback will continue to be incorporated into services.
The unit provides psychiatric, observational and psycho-social assessment, which is individually tailored to each service user. Staff work closely with families and provide various treatment and therapies for those who require care at times of crisis or to prevent escalation into crisis. The unit allows teenagers across the five boroughs to be placed in a unit specifically designed to meet their needs.
Simon Barber, chief executive, said: “The unit means young service users and their families now have access to high-quality mental health services, designed for teenagers, without having to travel to other areas of the country.
“I am really proud of the services we offer at this facility. It really is a fantastic place.”
Fairhaven meets standard nine of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. From April 2010, it will become illegal for all children to be placed on acute mental health wards, so this facility is opening far in advance of this.
The unit, based in Birch Street, Winwick, Warrington, will cover Warrington, Halton, Wigan, Knowsley and St Helens and will also consider referrals from the whole of the north-west.
Nearly 80,000 children and young people suffer from severe depression. For more information visit www.youngminds.org.uk