Mental health hub to open up in town
A new hub dedicated to supporting youngsters with mental health illnesses is being launched in Stonehouse.
Jack’s Hub will be run by the Trust Jack Foundation from its base at 36-38 New Street, with a grand opening event taking place on Sunday, February 3.
The foundation was set up in memory of Jack Hastie, who ended his life after suffering from adolescent depression.
It aims to help and support children and young people who have been identified as either suffering from a mental health illness, or who are at high risk of suffering from a mental illness.
As well as providing support to parents and guardians, the Trust Jack Foundation offers a grant scheme, training, counselling and stress management, one to one peer support for young people, adult befriending, awareness sessions and talking therapy.
A number of groups and activities for the new hub have already been planned, with many more in the pipeline.
Group chairperson Helen Mitchell explained: “In Jack’s Hub at the moment we have already set up a few groups aimed at helping people with mental health illnesses as well as our art therapy group which has been running for over two years now.
“We have plans to open to the youth of Stonehouse by providing them somewhere safe to go play and hang out with their friends.
“We are applying for funding to provide a youth group just for young people that have a mental health illness, so they can enjoy being out with others without feeling lonely in a group or feel that they are a target for bullies.”
The foundation already operates a support group open to everyone over 18 on Mondays from 6 to 8pm; a drop-in for all on Wednesdays from 12 to 2.30pm; Knit and Natter group on Thursdays from 12.30 to 2.30pm, and the Jack’s Lads on Sundays between 6 and 8pm, for men over 18 who are struggling with their mental health.
For more information on the group, search for the Trust Jack Foundation on Facebook or visit www. trustjackfoundation.co.uk