A HOUSING association is expanding its mental health services after winning a new contract to support even more people in North Yorkshire.

Broadacres will now provide its specialist services at supported housing schemes in Hambleton, Richmondshire, Scarborough and Ryedale, after being successful in a tender awarded by the County Council.

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In addition, and for the first time, Broadacres will also deliver floating support to people living in their own homes in these communities, who are struggling with their mental health.

This comes as figures issued recently revealed that mental health referrals across England have increased by almost a fifth compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The new contract, which starts in October and runs for two years, will enable Broadacres to support 22 people living in supported accommodation and a further 41 people in their own homes.

Sarah Beniams, Broadacres’ mental health and learning disabilities scheme manager, said: “We’re delighted to have been successful in this new tender and to be able to continue and expand the support we give to people struggling with their mental wellbeing.

“The last 18 months have been challenging for everyone, but particularly those with mental health issues, so with the best of the pandemic now hopefully behind us we can concentrate on providing help and support to individuals across North Yorkshire.”

As part of the new contract, Broadacres is now in the process of expanding its team of mental health support workers, bringing the total number of dedicated staff up from 6 to 13.

Figures issued recently from 117 Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) in England showed that in March 2021, around 300,000 people were referred to NHS mental health services in Great Britain, which is a rise of 18 per cent from the total in February 2020.

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