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UK’s first centre for complex student mental health issues to open in Manchester

The service will use £1.6million in funding


A new mental health service focused on helping students with complex mental health issues has been opened by the Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust.

There are five universities across Greater Manchester in partnership with this service including Uni of, Manchester Metropolitan and Salford.

The service is dedicated to students with severe conditions such as eating disorders, depression and psychosis. It aims to provide expert help to bridge the gap between the support received by students at home and the lack of help received whilst at Uni.

The new service aims to use the £1.6 million funding over 2019-2021 to help 500 people per year get the support they need.

Combining university well-being services with NHS experts means the centre can offer students professional help from a psychiatrist, a psychologist and mental health nurses.

Already the service has been highly regarded by those participating as well as those overseeing it. University of Manchester student Zahra told ITV News: "The service is a really important part in saying – you can do this and we’ll support you while you’re here."

Andy Burnham has praised the city for taking a "national lead" in student mental health, appreciating that "the transition to university life can be tough for many students".

With 40 students having used the service so far this semester, it is set to play an important role in students getting "treatment when they need it without barriers," says Prof Sandeep Ranote, the young persons' mental health lead in Greater Manchester.

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