Help is at hand for young people with mental health issues

Young people in Rhondda Cynon Taf living with mental health issues can get help and support from a new project run by Aberdare-based charity New Horizons.

The New Horizons Youth Project is for young adults aged between 18 and 25 who live in Rhondda Cynon Taf and who are experiencing mental health problems.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council commissions New Horizons to provide services for people experiencing mental health or emotional well-being issues. The organisation manages a range of resource and outreach centres throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf, undertaking education and outreach work, providing information and support services.

The new youth project offers 1:1 support; access to a range of information, advice, counselling and training from partner agencies and access to an internet cafe.

Young people can also access an in-house Nintendo Wii and are encouraged to make use of community leisure facilities, to support their physical well-being.

The pilot project runs every Thursday from 4pm-9pm at the New Horizons Resource Centre at 16, Dean Street in Aberdare town centre until mid-June and young people can either go along themselves or with the individual’s consent they can be referred by other agencies.

If you are a young person aged 18-25 suffering from mental health issues, or know someone who may benefit from the services available and would like to find out more, please contact Natalie Jones or Kristy Davies on 01685 881113.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Cabinet Member for Partnerships & Adults Social Services, Cllr Mike Forey, said: "New Horizons carries out important work in the field of mental health in our county borough and delivers a range of specialised services on behalf of the Council.

"We are pleased that this beneficial service for young people has been introduced by the charity. The service will be used by young people with whom the Council's Social Care services work but, importantly, it is also accessible more widely on a self-referral basis."

The New Horizons mental health charity received a grant of just over £7,000 for the pilot youth project from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales. Find out more at the Youth Project’s web page