An enhanced mental health support suite for children and young people has opened in Stoke-on-Trent.

The 'Peace Pod' is the first of its kind in the UK and has opened at the Darwin Centre in Penkhull to offer tailored support through therapeutic interventions.

It's hoped the suite will provide an alternative to a ward for patients with eating disorders, learning disabilities and acute episodes of emotional dysregulation.

Staff say the aim is to avoid admissions to a psychiatric intensive care unit or specialist eating disorder unit.

Staff at the Darwin Centre in the 'Peace Pod'. (North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust)

Glynis Harford, service manager at the Darwin Centre, explained some patients need "high-intensity short-term" nursing care or support "to move through distressing emotions".

She added: "The suite will form a core part of the ward, acting as a flexible space that we can quickly and easily reconfigure as a safe space to deliver more intensive support where required."

The Darwin Centre provides care and support for young people aged 12 to 18 years old with mental health difficulties.

The entrance to the 'Peace Pod'. (North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust)

The creation of the 'pod' and further staff training was funded by Toucan, a West Midlands Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services provider.

Liz Mellor, Chief Strategy Officer at Combined Healthcare, said:"The new Enhanced Support Model represents a great opportunity to deliver the best quality care for young people when they need it the most.

"With additional investment from Toucan, we have delivered comprehensive training to our staff and developed a safe space within our unit.

"Our aim is to deliver exceptionally skilled care in the best environment, supporting our young people in their recovery and planning for the future."

----------

READ: Council pet cremation service set for launch in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Subscribe to our FREE weekly newsletter email HERE - just click the 'SIGN UP' button.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook, X or Instagram.