SWLSTG commissioned innovative ‘Recovery Café’ services in Tooting and Wimbledon

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) announced the opening of their innovative new mental health services in Wimbledon and Tooting. The Recovery Cafés – which were launched by London based charity Hestia open their doors on Friday, 7 April.

This innovative 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 reducing the likelihood of requiring assistance from local accident and emergency services.

Based at their venue in Garratt Lane (3mins from Tooting Broadway tube station) the service went live on Friday 7th April. The Café provides a safe space for people to gain assistance if they feel they may be moving towards, or are currently experiencing a mental health crisis – delivered in a non-clinical environment.

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.

SWLSTG Chief Executive David Bradley said: “Our experiences show that mental health care delivered in a community setting is effective. We are working hard to ensure that those most vulnerable have access to our services, closer to home. The Recovery Café is an innovative service we hope that will transform patient care across South West London.”

The Cafés will empower people by enabling them to discuss the nature of the crisis they are experiencing. Focussing them 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 cafés aims to assist attendees in making practical plans with the ultimate goal of preventing a reoccurrence of such mental health crises.

The Recovery Cafés are welcoming, friendly and non-stigmatising environments 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 Cafés will be open 365 days, 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.

The second Recovery Café was also commissioned in South London and will be run by CDARS at 296a Kingston Road, Wimbledon Chase.

April 11, 2017