Suffolk Night Owls mental health support line to close

Jenna Keenan said she felt angry at the decision to close the Night Owls service

Service users have spoken of their "disappointment" that a mental health support line will close after its funding was cut.

Suffolk Night Owls ran a night phone service for nine years, funded by the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Suffolk County Council.

Funding has not been renewed and the service will shut from 1 April.

The ICB and council said alternative provision led to the decision.

Suffolk Night Owls has been running a helpline, text and email support service for nine years, seven days a week, from 19:00 to 01:00.

Jenna Keenan, who has used the service for several years, said it had become "a safety net" which had helped her build trust again.

"I found it very daunting at first, as you do when you try a new service, and you have to build that trust and rapport with people - but they were absolutely fantastic, they've been invaluable," she said.

She said learning that its funding had been cut left her feeling "angry, very distressed and heartbroken" and the decision "reinforces the belief that the system does fail people sometimes with mental health issues".

Suffolk Mind said they remained committed to improving and raising awareness of mental health

The mother of another service user with complex mental health needs said her daughter was also "very distressed" at the closure of Suffolk Night Owls.

She said: "They have made an enormous difference to her, she said they are kind, supportive and she feels listened to. It's so important for someone with complex mental health needs."

Her daughter said losing the service was as though "the rug had been pulled from under her feet", the mother said.

'Unique'

Jon Neal, from Suffolk Mind, said the charity was "committed to supporting, improving and raising awareness of mental health throughout the county".

He said it relied on fundraising, grants and contracts with local NHS services and local government. "Over the next few weeks, our hardworking team will try our best to ensure service users find the support they need," he added.

In a joint statement, the ICB and Suffolk County Council said: "When it was launched, Suffolk Night Owls was unique.

"There were few available services that offered people support who were living with emotional wellbeing and mental health needs outside working hours."

But the provision of additional services since had resulted in the decision to close the service, the statement said.