A Stockport mental health crisis centre is keeping its doors open throughout Christmas and New Year.
Open Door, on Princes Street, will be sticking to its regular opening hours over the whole holiday period. This means that drop-in, face-to-face support will be available from 10am-8pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and from 12-8pm on Boxing Day.
The service, which launched virtually in April and opened its doors in October, will be open 10am-8pm on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Open Door provides a safe haven and immediate help to people who are struggling with their mental health. The centre offers one-to-one support, with no appointment necessary. It is operated by national adult health and social care charity Making Space.
Nat Tresise, recovery worker, Open Door, said: "We know wellbeing and mental health troubles don't stop over the holidays and neither do we. At Open Door, we understand that Christmas and New Year can be a difficult time of year and this year will see even more people feeling isolated and uncertain about the future.
"Our door was open over the whole of the second lockdown, and we will remain open throughout the holidays."
A YouGov survey conducted in 2019 found that over two in five people in the UK have felt stressed during the festive season, with about one in four struggling with anxiety or depression. Feeling down around Christmas was found to be especially common among people who are unemployed (38%), divorced (35%) or widowed (31%). These figures are expected to be much higher this year as a result of the pandemic.
Open Door is also able to offer support to family and friends of people who may be experiencing mental health issues. It is a free service and is open to any resident of Stockport aged 18+.
Open Door was commissioned by Stockport CCG after extensive review and research of the current population needs. The CCG's Mental Health Investment Plan identified access and crisis as key themes and approved additional investment to develop the new mental health crisis pathway.
Open Door is at 72-72 Princes Street SK1 1RJ, next to CEX. Opening hours are 10am-8pm Monday-Friday and 12-8pm Saturday and Sunday. The Open Door helpline can be contacted 24/7 on 0800 138 7276. You can also contact Open Door at opendoorstockport@makingspace.co.uk