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A mental health charity, which is working to re-establish itself in Guernsey, has been awarded a £9,700 National Lottery grant.
Triumph Over Phobia supports the estimated 10% of people who suffer with phobias, and the two to three percent with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
It currently runs self-help groups in London, Bristol, Bath, Torbay, Plymouth, Cardiff, Ireland and Jersey, and is looking to set one up in Guernsey. The charity last operated in the island in the 1990s.
TOP is planning to use the lottery grant to extend its support to 16 to 18-year-olds, as well as continuing its work with adults.
Pictured: The money has been donated by The National Lottery.
"We know that discharge from a child and adolescent mental health service and a potential move to an adult mental health service takes place at varying ages, but most commonly when young people are aged between 16 and 18," explained National Director of the charity, Trilby Breckman.
"A major problem from young people is that they are sometimes too old to access CAMHS as a child, but are too young to enter the AMHS. The result is that young people with mental health problems frequently find themselves without professional support or a referral to an adult service. Additionally, if they do get a referral the adult services are likely to be ill-equipped to meet their needs.
"Thanks to this grant from the National Lottery, we will now be able to provide essential support for these young people wherever we become aware of a need."
A spokesperson from Health & Social Care also commented on the charity's announcement.
"We welcome any development that strengthens support from the third sector that can complement the care provided through our mental health services. While Triumph Over Phobia have highlighted some of the challenges they face with services in parts of the UK, in Guernsey, we don’t face precisely the same challenges. For example, we have ensured there is no gap between child and adolescent services and adult services, and we ensure that there is a smooth transition for patients when it is appropriate to move from one service to the other.
"But there are still many ways in which an established national charity working in the area of mental health can support our services and the community, as cooperation between Health & Social Care, primary health care and the third sector is a key principal of our Partnership of Purpose programme. We wish Triumph Over Phobia well as they work to re-establish themselves locally."
More information on the charity and its Guernsey branch is available on the Triumph Over Phobia Guernsey Facebook page.
Pictured top: File image.
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