Mind Matters

Mind Matters Surrey NHS trust and Age UK Surrey join forces to bring vital mental health support closer to older people.

Older people in Surrey can now more easily access mental health support thanks to an innovative new approach from Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Age UK Surrey.

The two organisations are trialling a dedicated weekly mental health clinic in  Age UK Surrey's Clockhouse Community Centre in Milford. The clinic is run by the trust’s talking therapies service, Mind Matters Surrey and means that older people can receive face-to-face support in a trusted community setting.

Catherine Hodgson, CEO of Age UK Surrey, said: ‘I am delighted that Age UK Surrey has partnered with Mind Matters Surrey to provide Talking Therapies at our Clockhouse Community Centre. We know that this important service will enable older people in our communities to access vital in-person support.'

Jade Finlay, Health Inequalities Lead and Primary Care Counsellor at Mind Matters, said: "We’ve worked closely with the Age UK Surrey team to help promote the service, attending staff meetings and building relationships that will support signposting and referrals. We aim to reduce the barriers older adults, their families and carers may face in accessing talking therapies by meeting them in the heart of their community.”

Charlotte Lawrence, Head of Service at Age UK Surrey, added: “We know from experience that the mental well-being of older people is too often overlooked, with a stronger focus on physical ailments that can become more common as we age. This partnership helps redress that balance and ensures a more holistic approach to care."

The Mental Health Foundation estimates that around 25 per cent of people aged 65 and over experience depression. The Centre for Mental Health and Age UK found that 75 per cent of people over 65 have experienced significant anxiety or low mood since turning 65.

Older adults can be referred to the clinic by Age UK Surrey or self-refer through the Mind Matters website to receive tailored one-to-one support for mild to moderate mental health difficulties, including anxiety and depression. Sessions can also provide help with grief and the loss of identity, issues which can emerge following retirement or changes in health.

Anyone aged 17 or over who is registered with a GP in Surrey can self-refer online via the Mind Matters website at the link below.