An instant messaging service that offers free mental health support for local young people is now available seven days a week.

North Staffs Mind launched the service, called Speak Up Space, in February 2019, initially operating on two days each week.

However, due to its popularity, this was later expanded to five days a week, and the service has now been made available seven days a week, offering early intervention one-to-one support online.

The service has also launched a new website offering self-help resources to help young people manage and understand their mental health and emotional well-being as well as signposting to a range of local and national support services.

The project was initially launched through fundraising from local charity Kelly's Legacy, which remembers North Staffordshire mum Kelly Burndred, who sadly took her own life after a long battle with her mental health.

Since its launch, Speak Up Space has supported over 7,000 service users via its website and over 450 young people directly on its instant messaging platform, and also continued to support local young people without an appointment or a referral throughout lockdown.

It all forms part of the Stay Well service, which is commissioned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Group.

The instant messaging service is available:

• Saturday (8pm-11pm),
• Sunday (8pm-11pm),
• Monday (5pm-8pm),
• Tuesday (8pm-11pm),
• Wednesday (5pm-8pm),
• Thursday (4pm-9pm),
• Friday (8pm-11pm)