Tackling the mental health crisis: New therapy service in the North East is first-of-its-kind for Priory
Date: 11th December 2023
- New service offers support to people struggling with mental health in the North East, where 250 suicides are recorded per year
- People living too far away from specialist centres can now access world-leading therapists in person, in settings closer to home
- Face-to-face therapy offered for conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, body dysmorphic disorder and more
- The service is the first-of-its-kind for Priory, the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health services
The UK’s leading independent provider of mental health services is opening up a new face-to-face therapy service in the North East.
Priory’s remote therapy network allows people to access face-to-face therapy - at a therapist’s own home or a local therapeutic space - without having to travel long-distances to a treatment centre outside the region.
The new North East service is a first-of-its-kind for Priory, increasing access to experienced, fully-accredited therapists and psychologists.
The service is a response to a growing concern about the UK’s mental health crisis and people’s ability to quickly access suitable healthcare provision. One in four adults now experiences a diagnosable mental health problem each year.
There are around 250 deaths from suicide in the North East each year, and a further 1,500 deaths of people with serious mental illness who die prematurely from other causes, according to statistics for the region from Public Health England, with people in the region more likely to suffer with mental health problems, substance mis-use (particularly alcohol), and self-harm than people across the UK on average.
People living in the region who experience mental health problems are more likely than others in England to have stable and appropriate accommodation, and to be employed.
The initial team of specialist Priory therapists are based across the North East region, including in Newcastle, Sunderland, Stockton on Tees and Middlesbrough.They will treat patients for a range of issues, including anxiety, stress, depression, phobias, body dysmorphic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, bereavement, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), perinatal depression, anger management, attachment disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and more.
Paula Bosha, Clinical Lead for Priory Healthcare, said: “Therapy can be a life-changing, and even life-saving, intervention tool for people with a range of mental health conditions.
“Sadly, we know that there is a higher prevalence of mental health conditions in the North East than the rest of the UK, and we know there are a people who are looking for support with their mental health who haven’t been able to access it.
“Some people would prefer to speak to a specialist in person, but might live too far away from a Priory location to allow for frequent travel. Therefore, this remote network connects people with accredited therapists and psychologists that live close to them.
“Our remote network allows our expert therapists and psychologists to welcome people into their own home or therapeutic space.
“Accessing therapy through Priory’s remote network means people can keep their wellbeing prioritised, with minimal disruption to lifestyle and existing commitments.”
Matt Dawkin, Therapist at Priory based in Stockton on Tees, said: “Mental health professionals are witnessing a worrying rise in the number of people experiencing serious mental health crisis. One of the underlying factors causing this is a lack of early intervention services for people. If you’re struggling with your mental health, seeking support early, in the form of therapy, can really help, and can prevent a larger crisis further down the line.”
This service is available to adults over the age of 18 years, and can be accessed by those self-paying for services. For more information or to enquire about therapy, call 08000846471 or visit the Priory website: https://www.priorygroup.com/locations/north-east-network-region
Priory also offers outpatient therapy and addiction services at Wellbeing Centres across the UK.
ENDS
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About Priory and MEDIAN
Priory is the UK’s leading independent provider of mental health services. We treat more than 70 conditions including depression, anxiety, addictions, and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across our nationwide network of sites. We also support autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within our specialist residential care and supported living facilities– helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, one of Europe’s leading providers of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: 290 facilities with 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people in the United Kingdom, 120 facilities with 20,000 beds caring for around 250,000 patients in Germany, and 15 facilities with 2,000 beds caring for 13,000 people in Spain, with more than 29,000 employees overall.