A NEW college for mental health workers and service users has opened as a pilot project in Durham.

The ARCH recovery college is based in St Margaret’s Health Centre in the Crossgate area of the city.

Service users, carers and staff from Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) in the Durham area can enrol for courses based on recovery principles.

Recovery looks at ways of empowering people with mental health issues to live satisfying and meaningful lives, within the limits of their illness.

Unlike traditional clinical recovery, which focuses on removing symptoms and getting back to normal, personal recovery is broader and looks a person’s whole life.

If the pilot proves successful it could be extended to other parts of the trust’s area.

Claire Chapman, ARCH recovery college manager, said: “This is an exciting project which reaffirms our commitment to the recovery principle. The college will teach services users how to become experts in their own recovery.

“At the same time it will ensure recovery is at the heart of all we do and help tackle the stigma often associated with mental health.”