Dozens seek help at rail station mental health hub

Dozens of people have been accessing mental health support at a railway station centre in its first month.

"The Hub" was launched by West Midlands Railway (WMR) and charity Rethink Mental Illness at Wolverhampton Station, in May.

It is providing people with support and guidance, as well as offering a space for local organisations to run pop-ups and events.

"The Hub has been extremely successful in its first four weeks of opening," said Samantha Passmore, Wolverhampton customer experience manager for WMR.

"We have had dozens of people enquiring about advice and additional support, and more and more charities are requesting to use the facility, which was our vision from day one.

"We look forward to seeing the Hub go from strength to strength over the coming months."

Organisations already using the site have included employment support service Thrive into Work, and Children in CueSports - which provides pathways into sport.

"In just a few weeks, we've seen how much of a difference it can make to have an accessible space where people feel able to reach out for help," said Kirsten Rose, service manager at Rethink Mental Illness - which maintains and staffs the site.

"It's a great example of what's possible when organisations come together to put mental health at the heart of local communities."

The initiative is backed by Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation – the lead provider of mental health and learning disability services in the region.

Its chief nurse Carolyn Green, said they had seen increased interest in their services since the hub opened.

"This includes our 24/7 mental health helpline, our sanctuary hubs, the Black Country Recovery College, and free suicide prevention training for families and carers," she said.

"Having somewhere that signposts to these services in a visible, public location really matters and we believe it is, and will continue to be, life-saving."

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.