'Desperately needed' mental health hub opened

Tori Hetherington and Lee Nicholson decided to help provide speedy support locally

A couple who overcame serious mental health issues have helped set up a support hub in an area where they say it is "desperately needed".

Lee Nicholson, from the Building Blocks Community Centre in Concord, Washington, said some residents had to complete a 14-mile (22.5km) round trip for support.

The hub, which is inside the centre and staffed by NHS counsellors, is taking existing referrals but is soon to open a walk-in centre.

Mr Nicholson said he was keen to open the facility "on the village's doorstep" as he knew what it was like to be in a "bad place", having been admitted to a mental health hospital for eight weeks when he was younger.

He told the BBC: "I had a breakdown and went through a really bad time. It was a difficult time in my life.

"I didn't want to speak to people, wanted to be on my own. It's still difficult to talk about."

Tori says her mental health "took a dip" after her younger son, Nate, had to undergo 14 surgeries on his heart

His partner, Tori Hetherington, had delayed postnatal depression in 2009 and suffered mental health issues following the birth of her second child, years later.

She said mental health support was limited at the time.

She visited her GP where she was given medication "but there was nothing else offered".

The pair, who have since recovered and now run the community centre together, said following their experience it was "important" there were places locally to access support without referrals or the need to have an appointment.

The hub has been developed in partnership with the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust and the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Mr Nicholson said: "We're trying to create is a one-stop shop for some people who can come here and access all the services they need in one place."

He added some patients had previously had to travel to Houghton-le-Spring or Monkwearmouth in Sunderland, which was "putting people off" accessing support.

The North East ICB acknowledged that for many it was "easier to get help in a familiar place close to home with no travel costs and described the move to open inside the community hub as "great".