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14
Dec 2023
Harrogate charity warns young people's mental health crisis reaching 'epidemic proportions'
A Harrogate charity has warned young people are facing a mental health crisis of "epidemic proportions".
Wellspring Therapy and Training, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in November, offers affordable counselling to local people.
The charity said it faced the highest demand ever for services from young people.
Emily Fullarton, Wellspring’s executive director, said:
Just over a third of children with a diagnosable mental health condition receive NHS treatment.
Fullarton commented:
The charity has found it difficult to increase the number of sessions on offer because of staff and funding shortages.
However, Wellspring plans to double the number of available sessions by starting a professional training course next year.
Counsellors on the course will learn how to specialise their services for young people.
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Wellspring was founded in 2003 and operates in Starbeck.
The weekly session fee depends on how much you can afford.
Wellspring executive director Emily Fullarton with patron Rt Rev Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds.
Information on applying for counselling at Wellspring can also be found on their website.
If you are going through a hard time, you can call Samaritans for free 24 hours a day on 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org.
Children going through a difficult time can call Childline for free on 0800 1111.
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