A NEW unit for young people with mental health difficulties has opened in Middlesbrough.

The Westwood Centre, at West Lane Hospital, Middlesbrough is run by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV).

The centre offers a safe environment for young people, aged 12 to 18, from across the country to be assessed and treated for a range of complex mental health needs.

The new building is the first phase of a multi-million rebuilding project at West Lane Hospital in Middlesbrough, which aims to provide state of the art facilities for patients.

The Westwood Centre offers 24 hour support to young people who may have been in conflict with the law or present a significant risk to themselves or others, who have been assessed as requiring a low secure environment and need to be legally detained under the Mental Health Act.

The rebuilt centre offers a wide range of treatments and therapies and has a fantastic range of facilities to aid recovery including 12 en-suite bedrooms, education rooms, a music room, a gym and sports facilities and family visiting areas.

Jackie Ennis, head of children and young people’s services at TEWV, said: “The Westwood Centre has always prided itself on being a safe, comfortable place where we can work with young people and their families to help them return to their everyday lives. The new facilities at the centre are fantastic and will help us engage even more with the young people who come to us.”

One service user said: “I think the new music room is awesome and the visiting rooms are pretty cool as they have sofas and a TV which makes visits from friends and family more fun.”