New Norfolk and Waveney Mind mental health recovery house for people in west Norfolk 06 December 2023 | By Keiron Pim People in west Norfolk struggling with poor mental health will soon have a new rural space where they can receive support from Norfolk and Waveney Mind staff to focus on their recovery and wellbeing, now that plans have been given the go-ahead. King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council voted on December 4th to approve the mental health charity’s proposals for a Short Stay Recovery House in the village of Barroway Drove, near Downham Market. A maximum of four people at a time will stay for up to five nights at the house where they will be helped by trained staff in a comfortable, non-clinical setting, thanks to funding from the NHS’ Integrated Care Board. Norfolk and Waveney Mind will open the house after running a successful pilot scheme in Costessey, Norwich. Since it opened three years ago, Holly Tree House has helped people with their recovery while also reducing the burden on GP surgeries and A&E departments. This has saved the NHS more than £1.1m that would have been spent on mental health beds. Pete Boczko, chief executive of Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said: “We are delighted that our plans for a Short Stay Recovery House in Barroway Drove have been approved by King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council. It will make such a difference to people in the area with poor mental health, as well as massively easing the burden on the NHS. “People who have stayed at our SSRH in Costessey, Norwich, have said it saved their lives and helped them find a new way forward. Our country is experiencing a mental health crisis and the kind of intervention we can offer at our recovery houses is a vital part of the solution. We plan to open our new Short Stay Recovery House in the first quarter of 2024 and look forward to giving people in difficulty the help that they desperately need.” Norfolk and Waveney Mind also plans to open a further Short Stay Recovery House in Burgh Castle, near Great Yarmouth, to help people in east Norfolk experiencing poor mental health. Mental health issues affect all of us, whether directly or by impacting someone we know. Up to 84 per cent of people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. One in three GP visits is associated with a mental health issue, and in Norfolk, one in seven people lives with depression or anxiety. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one then it is important to seek support. For information, resources and a list of all of Norfolk and Waveney Mind’s services, including its new REST Community Hubs, visit www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk or call 03003305488. For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 option 2. Share Tweet Share on WhatsApp