A mental health charity will have 39 counsellors by the start of January and says demand on its services is so high it could even double that number.

Platform 1 – based in Huddersfield but covering across Kirklees – provides mental health counselling and support for people facing a crisis and helps people suffering from depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, PTSD and bereavement along with many other issues.

Platform 1 was struggling so much to cope with demand that it has been closed to new referrals but that will change in January when more counsellors join the charity.

Chief executive Gez Walsh says funding remains at crisis point as the service costs around £50,000 a year to run yet funding has all but dried up from its traditional sources which are Kirklees Council and the NHS.

“It’s no secret that neither has any money,” said Gez. “Yet demand on our service has never been higher and some of the people we see have more complex issues than we are used to seeing so we are asking people who use our service and can afford to pay to now start paying.”

Counselling sessions typically last an hour and cost £45 and Platform 1 helps men, women and children, especially with local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services so overstretched.

Platform 1 does have some contracts with schools where they help everyone from youngsters playing truant and family liaison through to teaching students about mental health awareness and counselling teachers.

Gez has thanked the people of Huddersfield who have rallied round to help it this year.

He said: “We often hear about the negative things which happen in our community but there are far more good people who work to make our community a better, safer, happier place so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Kirklees who have supported us all this year.”

 

Honley Male Voice Choir is well known for its singing prowess but members walked 500 miles (picture above) to raise money for Platform 1.

The Yen Team (Young Employees Network) from Kirklees Council walked the Three Peaks to raise £1,000 For Platform 1.

Another £4,000 came from Almondbury Jazz Festival which was held in November while money was also raised by Huddersfield Scooter Club.

Renowned soul and Motown singer Llewellyn Stephens from Huddersfield regularly holds music and dancing nights for Platform 1 and has raised many hundreds of pounds.

Gez added: “All these people give their time and energy to help support us so we can support you. From all the team at Platform 1 we would like to thank them all along with so many other people who have helped raise money for our charity.

“Without them and many others like them we would not be able to deliver our services to the community.”

For more information on Platform 1 go to its website HERE.

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content, copywriting and ghost-writing autobiographies.

Image of Honley MVC walkers by: SANDIE NICHOLSON