Ebbsfleet Development Corporation is to support three projects with funding of more than £90,000 to help address the unprecedented need for access to mental health services by local residents across the Garden City in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
More than £50,0000 will go to Ebbsfleet Academy to promote mental health, wellbeing and emotional resilience in the school.
It follows pressure on young people following the covid-19 spread and the money will be used to help develop the school’s mental health programme which includes therapeutic session for staff and students and for training staff as frontline workers with the school’s service provider Place2Be.
Gurjit Shergill, headteacher of Ebbsfleet Academy (pictured) said: “The school was in need of support to deliver an appropriate short-term response and do not currently have any money allocated in our budget to respond to the current mental health crisis which is why Ebbsfleet Development Corporation’s financial help is timely.”
And £40,000 is being split between two projects which will benefit Ebbsfleet Garden City residents and the wider area.
Togetherall is a leading digital mental health service for anyone aged over 16 and is the only digital mental health service that is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Togetherall has supported over 250,000 people to date and a recent survey found 90% of people using the service reported a wellbeing gain (less isolated, improved coping skills, less anxious, improved emotional health, more confident, more able to talk to others, less stressed, less depressed and increased self-esteem).
Whether impacted by social isolation, restricted by Covid restrictions, geography, work schedules or caring commitments, many people struggling with mental health issues can’t or won’t access face-to-face services.
Because Togetherall is anonymous and can be accessed 365 days a year, 24/7, for many, it affords a less daunting way to access support than through face-to-face interactions.
Porchlight helps people to improve their mental health and address other issues that may be affecting it – such as housing worries, debt or loneliness.
Thanks to EDC’s funding, a Porchlight community worker will be based in Garden City. They will provide ongoing personalised support to anyone who is struggling with the impact of Covid-19.
This involves helping people find and access support services that are right for them and working with them to set achievable goals and actions that will allow them to move forward.
Kevin McGeough, Head of Strategy and Placemaking with Ebbsfleet Development Corporation said: “The pandemic has taken its toll on people’s mental health in more ways that we yet know, so we’re happy to be able to provide this funding to support local residents in these challenging times.”