NEW programmes to help improve the mental health of people living in York and Selby have been announced.

The NHS has invested a total of £55,000 into six voluntary and community programmes which support people with mental ill health and learning disabilities.

They include mindfulness classes, developing green spaces around mental health residential units, and a programme to offer work experience to those who have been out of work for a long time.

It is hoped the projects will reduce pressures on mental health resources in York and Selby, as well as looking at the bigger picture of people’s health and wellbeing such as their education, employment and housing.

Ruth Hill, of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), said: “The positive engagement will hopefully reduce the likelihood of future support from mental health resources being required in future."

The six programmes to receive investment include Purple Patch Arts, which will work to introduce people with learning difficulties to community activities, and York Mind, which will take referrals from TEWV to provide activities such as group therapy, peer support, guided learning courses, mindfulness and one-to-one life coaching.

Friends of St Nicholas Fields will develop green spaces around units where people are in the early stages of recovery and Community Furniture Store, Selby, will support people with mental or physical health issues to volunteer and restore furniture, as well as running six-week work experience placements. It will run job search programmes for people whose self-esteem and confidence has been affected by long term unemployment.

Meanwhile, young people in Selby will receive confidential one-to-one support sessions in schools from Saint Michaels Hospice and the York Stars are writing an interactive play to inform children about the need for good emotional and mental wellbeing, to be performed for older children in 15 primary schools in York, along with mental wellbeing workshops.

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), said it developed the 'TEWV Innovation Fund', in partnership with Your Consortium, to support local projects to deliver programmes and activities which can help people to overcome barriers to achieving good mental health and emotional well-being.