An out-of-hours mental health support service has helped more than 440 people in crisis.

Solent Mind’s South West Hampshire Safe Haven, in Leigh Road, Eastleigh, recently marked its one-year anniversary, having supported 443 people since its launch in July last year.

The service provides informal, non-judgmental, and immediate mental health support to those in self-diagnosed crises, operating every day from 5pm to 11pm.

The centre’s team, all of whom have experienced mental health challenges, offer peer-to-peer support, with many guests providing positive feedback on their experiences.

The service is also available via telephone or online through a video link accessed by a QR code.

The charity, which is Hampshire’s largest mental health charity, aims to ensure that anyone in the community with a mental health problem has a place to turn for advice and support.

Sarah Byrne, service manager at Safe Haven, said: "The project was set up for those people experiencing a self-diagnosed mental health crisis, so they do not have to go to A&E, phone 999 or 111.

"This is a free service, and our team, with their own lived experience of mental health, are here to listen and offer support. We can also help with signposting to other services locally or nationwide.

"This could be for immediate or urgent care, primary or secondary care, or even linking in with services you are already in contact with.

"To see the project evolve over this last year and to know that we’ve helped nearly 450 people is incredible.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg, however. There are so many more people in our community that have our support, and by ensuring people in the region know that we are here, we hope to double, treble, or even quadruple that figure in the future!"