Press Release: New partnership to improve access to mental health support

Kent and Medway Mental Health Providers Create New Partnership to Improve Access to Support

Eight mental health service providers in Kent and Medway have joined forces to launch a new online support hub, ‘We Listen’, to make it easier for local people to access free NHS talking therapies.

We Listen, which is funded by NHS Kent and Medway, is a platform for local people to access mental health support that suits their needs and that fits around their lives. It will bring all of Kent and Medway’s talking therapy service providers into one place, making it easier for people to access help and raise awareness that it is never too early to talk to someone if you’re feeling low, stressed, or anxious.

The partners are Dover Counselling Centre, FCS Talking Therapies, ieso Digital Health, Everyturn Mental Health, North Kent Mind, University Medical Centre Psychological Therapies, Vita Health Group, and We Are With You. The partnership has spent the past six months designing and developing the We Listen website, providing resources, links, and guidance, working together to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of the region.

The platform is available for anyone in Kent and Medway to access a range of services, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, and couple’s therapy, amongst others. The partners also provide support and guidance for symptoms including anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Additionally, the partnership will be launching a local campaign to raise awareness that help is available to anyone who may be struggling.

Speaking on the news, We Listen partner, Michelle Ford, commented: “We are delighted to launch the We Listen website, as an important way for the people of Kent and Medway to improve their mental health. As talking therapy providers, we know it’s not always easy to know what support is available or how to access it. By working together, we developed We Listen to make it easier for everyone to get the help they need.

NHS Kent and Medway’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kate Langford, said: “Thanks to the new We Listen website it is now easier for everyone to find out about NHS talking therapies in Kent and Medway. If you are feeling low, anxious, or stressed, there is now one place you can go for more information about how to get the help you need, like counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy, to help you feel like yourself again.”

Support is available to anyone who is 17 and a half or over and is registered with a GP in Kent or Medway.

For more information visit https://www.kmtalkingtherapies.co.uk/.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

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About We Listen

We Listen is a partnership made up of eight local talking therapy providers who offer a range of free NHS talking therapies across Kent and Medway. The partners are Dover Counselling Centre, FCS Talking Therapies, ieso Digital Health, Everyturn Mental Health, North Kent Mind, University Medical Centre Psychological Therapies, Vita Health Group, and We Are With You.

We Listen is funded by NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, bringing together all the local talking therapy services in one place, so you can easily access local support when you need it.

We Listen provides support for a wide range of common mental health conditions, such as insomnia, stress, and anxiety, and is offered through a variety of treatments, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), counselling for depression, and digital talking therapies.