Mental Health Awareness Week this year centres on ‘Community’ – a theme that ties in with the work of Open Mental Health (OMH) across Somerset. We believe in the power of connection, local support networks, and peer-based solidarity to help people through difficult times and find their way towards recovery and wellbeing. Feeling part of a community, being understood and valued, helps us remain hopeful and stay well.
Open Mental Health itself is a community endeavour—a different way of working, bringing together NHS services, Somerset Council, and an alliance of Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations. A partnership based on shared expertise: Whether a client needs clinical support from Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, practical help with housing or benefits from Citizens Advice Somerset, support navigating eating disorders from SWEDA, activities to boost physical wellbeing through Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership (SASP), or the unique understanding offered by peer support specialists like the WATCH CIO Project, Open Mental Health aims to provide them with the right support at the right time.
The goal is ‘no wrong door’ – making it easier to find support, no matter where someone starts their journey. You can explore the wide range of organisations involved on the OMH partners page.
Community in Action: From Receiving Support to Giving Back
What does this community-focused approach look like day-to-day? Often, it begins with simple, local initiatives that meet people where they are. Jo Poole, the Lived Experience Independent Co-Chair for the OMH VCFSE alliance, explains how informal social connections complement more structured support. Speaking about a community coffee morning she co-runs in Bridgewater with Robyn Butler of Second Step, Jo said it developed from seeing that people accessing crisis services also needed opportunities for friendship and belonging. “We wanted something social that people could go to and actually meet others.”
These spaces often allow for personal growth in unexpected ways. Jo shared how sometimes, people who initially attend seeking support find themselves gradually wanting to contribute. It might start small, but over time, someone might begin helping out, perhaps making drinks or tidying up. This journey from receiving care to offering it is empowering for all involved and helps people reconnect with their strengths and feel part of something. As Jo puts it, the “connection and the giving part of the five ways to well-being are often what really motivate and make us feel really good“.
Reaching Out and Bridging Gaps
Supporting people whose recovery journey enters a time of transition, like leaving hospital care, for example, empowers people to reengage with the community at large. The Step Down service, managed by OMH partner Second Step, works alongside people at this vulnerable point in their lives. One client described how this helped them avoid homelessness after a psychiatric admission: “My time with the service has given me the help and resources I needed to completely rework every aspect of my life. They have helped me in so many ways, from guiding me through the process of housing, PIP, and disability living allowance, to just being there to talk me through a dark patch. They have given me the skills, support, and stability to rebuild my life from scratch. For the first time in maybe six years, I can see a bright future.”
Practical support, delivered collaboratively within the community, can prevent crisis, assist recovery, and reduce pressure on NHS services by offering a more successful, sustainable discharge.
OMH: Empowering Community Action
Through its local partnership structure, Open Mental Health encourages community connections across Somerset. By linking statutory services with the invaluable work of local groups, we can offer more holistic, person-centred support.
Since 2020, Open Mental Health grants totalling over £900,000 have supported more than 140 local organisations, helping them deliver community-based mental health support. Our 2023 Impact Report explores how the collective efforts of local people make a real difference in their communities, shaping the future of mental health care across Somerset.
Peer Support in the Community
Peer support builds self-sustaining, supportive communities founded on shared experience. OMH partner WATCH CIO grew from a peer support group and now provides guidance and support to both organisations and individuals. Their video hub hosts many inspiring stories of community and connection.
As Alex Nelson of Peer Connections explained earlier this year, peer support offers something unique: the chance to connect with someone who can understand or empathise. The first step on a journey toward better mental health is often as simple as finding a kind listener, and at OMH, a whole community based on compassionate care is ready to support you.
How to Contact OMH
While a healthcare professional can refer you to OMH, it is easy and straightforward to do so yourself. We offer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that people struggling with their mental health in Somerset can access the right support at the right time.
To make a self-referral, please call our team at Mindline Somerset any time of the day or night, seven days a week, locally on 01823 276892 or freephone 0800 138 1692.
Alternatively, Mindline Live Web Chat is available via our website every day from 8 pm to 11 pm, or you can send us a message.
We’ve created a wellbeing kit packed full of resources from our partners–check it out and discover new ways to Stay Well in 2025.