New drop-in mental health service launched for residents of Hillingdon

The Charity Hestia have launched a new mental health service in the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Hillingdon Cove Café is a drop-in service where adult residents of Hillingdon can go if they are experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Café seeks to help people create a safety plan using their strengths, skills, resilience and coping mechanisms to continue their journey towards recovery. Their aim is to support people to reduce their immediate anxiety, formulate individual plans to support their mental health and reduce the likelihood of requiring further assistance from other crisis services.

Commissioned by the Central and Northwest London NHS Foundation Trust, the service is open between 2pm and 10pm, 7 days a week. It is open on all bank holidays including Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Gayle Lowery-Jones, Hestia's Regional Director of Operations, commented:

"The pandemic has been incredibly challenging for everyone, but for those with mental health needs, the safety measures and guidelines imposed has heightened the need for crisis support.

That’s why services like Hillingdon Cove Cafe are vital for local communities in need of immediate support. We’re open 365 days a year, no appointment is needed, and mental health recovery workers are available to listen and support individuals to work through their challenges. We’re here to help reduce pressure on local hospital emergency departments, and create a safe environment for the residents of Hillingdon.

The lockdowns have shown us all the importance of looking after our mental health. We need to make sure support is accessible to everyone."