"For some it can be a time of stress, anxiety and loneliness"

Tuesday 24 December 2019

Islanders struggling with their mental health during the festive period - whether over finances, family or otherwise - will be able to access free support at a newly-opened drop-in centre this Christmas.

The Listening Lounge, which launched last month, will be open every day for the rest of December, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

The facility offers islanders aged 18 and over free and early help as part of a pilot scheme aiming to help islanders with issues such as anxiety and depression before they become more complex.

Pictured: The Listening Lounge is based at Charles House, at the junction of Charles Street and Ingouville Place.

Based at Charles House, at the junction of Charles Street and Ingouville Place, the lounge is staffed by clinicians who oversee the day-to-day running of the service, with peer support staff bringing additional insights through their experience of mental health difficulties.

Islanders can refer themselves to the Listening Lounge and if an assessment finds they need more specialist help they will be directly referred to Jersey Talking Therapies without having to go through their GP.

Christmas can be a difficult time of year for many people, so we are opening our doors throughout the festive season.

Take a look at our holiday opening hours below.#MentalHealthMatters pic.twitter.com/qNioP987RL

— Listening Lounge Jersey (@LLJersey) December 3, 2019

During the festive season the Listening Lounge be open from 10:00 to 22:00 apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day when it will open between 10:00 and 14:00 and on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day when it will be open between 10:00 and 18:00.

“Although the festive period is seen as a happy time, for some it can be a time of increased stress, anxiety and loneliness," Lucy Nicolaou, Head of Services for L.I.N.C, explained.

"Whether it’s coping with family issues or worrying about finance, we want to assure islanders who may be struggling with their mental health that the Listening Lounge will continue to offer support and advice throughout the Christmas period.” 

Pictured: 115 have visited the Lounge since it opened.

Since the Listening Lounge launched, 115 islanders have accessed help. 55 of them had self-referred for counselling, while the other 60 opted for an informal chat with a member of the team. Approximately one third of them accesses the service regularly. 

 “The Listening Lounge is proving to be a much-needed and valuable service which islanders can turn to during their hour of need," Senator Steve Pallett, Assistant Health Minister with responsibly for mental health, said.

“It is fantastic that the service is also working collaboratively with the States of Jersey Police meaning that officers can now direct islanders with mental health issues to the Listening Lounge in the first instance, rather than the Hospital’s Emergency Department, if appropriate to do so.

"The Council of Ministers has committed to improving access to mental health services so it is great that the Listening Lounge is growing from strength to strength.”