London-based charity Hestia are excited to announce the opening of their innovative new mental health service in the heart of Tooting – The Recovery Café – which has been commissioned by South West London and Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG).

This new service will complement the diverse portfolio of mental health services provided, supporting individuals in mental health crisis to reduce their immediate anxiety, formulating individual plans to support their mental health and thereby aiming to reduce the likelihood of requiring assistance from local accident and emergency services.

Based at their venue in Garratt Lane (3 mins from Tooting Broadway tube station) the service goes live from Friday 7th April 2017. The Café will provide a safe space for people to gain assistance if they feel they may be moving towards, or are currently experiencing a mental health crisis.

People aged 18 and over from South West London (Kingston, Merton, Sutton, Richmond and Wandsworth) can self-present to the Café. The service is free and there is no requirement to pre-book an appointment.

The Café aims to empower people by enabling them to discuss the nature of the crisis they are experiencing. Attendees will be taught how to utilise their strengths and their personal coping mechanisms, which in turn will enable them to decrease their distress and promote their personal well-being. Additionally, the café aims to assist attendees in making practical plans with the ultimate goal of preventing a reoccurrence of such mental health crises.

In line with their principles of The Hestia Approach, the service was co-produced with a number of stakeholders, which include customers, staff, commissioners, and local organisations.

The Recovery Café will be a welcoming, friendly and non-stigmatising environment offering food, activities and quiet spaces to cater for each individual need.

Hestia staff will be supported on site by The Listening Place, the local Home Treatment Teams, volunteers and peer champions.

The Café will be open every day from 6pm – 11pm (Mon-Fri) and 12 noon – 11pm (Sat / Sun & Bank Holidays). Find out more about the support provided at the Recovery Café HERE.

A second Recovery Café has also been commissioned in South London and will be run by CDARS at 296a Kingston Road, SW20 8LX.

For further information on the Recovery Cafe please contact Kirsty Williams, Business Development Manager. For press enquiries or further information about Hestia please contact: Abid Gangat, Media and Communications Manager.