Suffolk Night Owls mental health support line saved from closure

Suffolk Mind runs the Night Owls service offering non-crisis support out of hours

A mental health support line that was due to be shut down after having its funding cut has been saved.

Suffolk Night Owls, which provides night phone service, was due to close in April but has secured funding to continue until March 2025.

The service will be wholly funded by the NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB).

The ICB said the decision was made after feedback from service users and staff.

Suffolk Night Owls, delivered by Suffolk Mind, was previously jointly funded by the ICB and Suffolk County Council.

It has run a helpline, text and email support service for nine years, seven days a week, from 19:00 to 01:00.

When the closure was announced service users expressed their disappointment that a "safety net" for people with mental health concerns was being taken away.

A review of the service involving speaking to service users and partner organisations will take place over the next year, the ICB said. Jason Joseph from NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, said: "We are grateful to everyone who took time to give their feedback on the Suffolk Night Owls service. "We have listened to what we have been told and recognise the importance of the service to many people. "We have reflected and believe taking more time to work with service users and partners to review the current service and determine how we best meet their needs is the right way forward."