A Safe Space For Young Adults To Talk About Feelings And Emotions

Published on: 14 Jan, 2022
Updated on: 18 Jan, 2022

A six-month pilot service is running in Guildford to support 18- to 25-year-olds with their mental health and wellbeing.

It is a partnership between Guildford-based drug and mental health charity Catalyst and Oakleaf Enterprises, also Guildford based, that also helps people manage their mental health.

The Young Adult Safe Haven is open from 5pm to 9pm, seven days a week and is next door to the current adult Safe Haven at Oakleaf’s premises in Walnut Tree Close.

In January 2021, the YoungMinds mental health charity conducted its fourth survey with young people into the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health, showing that many young people found this lockdown even harder to cope with than previous ones.

Asked what the main pressures were during the current lockdown, respondents mostly spoke of loneliness and isolation, concerns about school, college or university work and a breakdown in routine. Many young people also expressed fears about the future.

After this research was released, Surrey County Council’s User Voice and Participation Surrey service conducted local research to see if a save haven for young adults would be beneficial to help tackle mental health. The results showed that young adults would feel more comfortable in their own space and among peers of a similar age.

The drop-in centre opened in November and has two support workers who engage with attendees, provide emotional support if needed and signpost as required.

Should someone present in crisis, they are signposted to the current Safe Haven next door in order to be seen by a community psychiatric nurse.

More details about the Young Adult Safe Haven on Catalyst’s website.