Anxious Minds

17/06/2026

Anxious Minds CEO gave a talk about the importance of mental health support at the lunch of a new support programme aimed at bringing communities together.

Asians of the North

North Tyneside VODA NECA QTS North Tyneside Council North East and North Cumbria NHS Newcastle City Council

A North East community campaign inspired by the legacy of boxing legend Muhammad Ali is aiming to bring people together across cultures, faiths and backgrounds while inspiring the next generation ahead of the 50th anniversary of Ali’s historic visit to the region. The Asians of the North Foundatio...

16/06/2026

Is Mental Health Support Being Ignored as Young People Struggle to Find Employment?

As more young people face barriers to entering employment, an important question must be asked: is mental health support being overlooked at a time when it is needed most?

The COVID-19 lockdowns had a profound impact on young people's lives. Education was disrupted, social connections were lost, and many entered adulthood during a period of uncertainty and isolation. Yet despite the well-documented effects of the pandemic on mental wellbeing, there was limited long-term investment in mental health support specifically targeted at helping young people recover and rebuild their confidence.

In the North East, anxiety has become one of the most significant challenges facing young people today. Many are struggling with low self-esteem, social anxiety, depression, and fears about their future. These issues are often made worse by financial pressures, a competitive job market, and the difficulty of gaining work experience. For some, the journey into employment feels overwhelming before it has even begun.

Mental health professionals have long emphasised that early intervention is one of the most effective ways to support recovery and prevent problems from becoming more severe. However, the reality for many young people is very different. Waiting lists for counselling and specialist mental health services can stretch for months and, in some cases, more than a year. During this time, conditions may worsen, opportunities can be missed, and individuals can become increasingly disconnected from education, training, or employment.

The consequences extend beyond the individual. When young people are unable to access timely support, communities lose potential talent, employers lose future workers, and society bears the long-term costs of untreated mental health problems. Delayed intervention often leads to more complex and expensive support needs later on.

There is also a growing concern that employment support and mental health support are being treated as separate issues when they are closely linked. Young people who are struggling with anxiety or poor mental health may find it difficult to attend interviews, engage with training programmes, or sustain employment. Without addressing wellbeing, efforts to improve employment outcomes may have limited success.

This raises a serious question: is the current system failing a generation of young people? While awareness of mental health has improved, awareness alone is not enough. Young people need accessible services, shorter waiting times, early intervention programmes, and sustained investment in both mental health and employment support.

If we are serious about helping young people build successful futures, mental health can no longer be treated as an afterthought. It must be recognised as a fundamental part of supporting young people into education, training, and work. Without meaningful action, many risk being left behind at a time when they should be building confidence, independence, and hope for the future.

14/06/2026

Anxious Minds is currently delivering two projects in Blyth: our Counselling Service on Bowes Street and our Veterans Support Groups in partnership with the RBL in the town centre.

We are considering launching a new mental health and wellbeing project for local residents, providing transport to our Outdoor Therapy Centre in Prudhoe. The centre offers a range of therapeutic outdoor activities, including hill walking, kayaking, mountain climbing, abseiling, and Forest School sessions in our private woodland.

We would like to hear from local people and community stakeholders. Do you think this service would be of interest to residents in Blyth, and would you support its development?



QTS Northumberland County Council Blyth Town Council Community and Voluntary Action Blyth Valley - CVABV Blyth Spartans Blyth Spartans Women

12/06/2026

This year, thanks to a kind donation of £5,000 from UK Lift and Escalator, Anxious Minds has been able to provide a free weekly breakfast club for veterans in our Veteran and Community Kitchen.

This support is incredibly important to the veteran community. For many veterans, the breakfast club is much more than a hot meal. It is a safe and welcoming place to meet others, reduce isolation, build friendships, and feel part of a community again. It also gives veterans the chance to speak with staff, access advice, and find out about wider mental health and wellbeing support if they need it.

We are incredibly grateful to UK Lift and Escalator for standing with our veterans and helping us provide a service that brings people together, supports recovery, and makes a real difference every week.

11/06/2026

We are pleased to announce that from July 2026, Anxious Minds will be launching funded mental health support for NHS workers and blue light service personnel.

This project will provide access to:
✅ Counselling
✅ Emotional and practical support
✅ Outdoor therapy
✅ Mindfulness and wellbeing activities

Our NHS staff, paramedics, police officers, firefighters, ambulance crews and frontline workers give so much to support others, often while carrying the emotional impact of stress, trauma and pressure themselves.

This project is about giving something back.

At Anxious Minds, we believe those who care for our communities deserve the right support, at the right time, in a safe and understanding space.
You care for others. We are here for you.

More information will be available soon.
🌐 www.anxiousminds.co.uk

11/06/2026

The North East deserves better mental health support.

We cannot continue to accept a system where people are forced to wait until they reach crisis point before help becomes available.

The evidence is clear. The North East has the highest su***de rate in England. Almost one in four people in the region are likely to be living with a common mental health condition. Thousands of adults, children and young people are waiting far too long for the support they desperately need.

But behind every statistic is a real person. a parent, a child, a veteran, a worker, a neighbour, a family trying to hold everything together.

Across our communities, poverty, trauma, isolation, poor housing, unemployment and long-term illness are all having a devastating impact on people’s mental health. Yet too often, local charities and community organisations are left to fill the gaps without the long-term funding needed to meet growing demand.

At Anxious Minds, we see this every day.
People come to us because they need someone to listen. They need counselling. They need advice. They need peer support. They need a safe place to recover.

Veterans and their families come to us carrying trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, addiction, relationship breakdown and social isolation. Many have already waited too long. Many feel they have nowhere else to turn.
Early intervention saves lives.

Community mental health support must be treated as essential, not optional. We need proper investment in local services that can support people before they fall into crisis. We need services that are trusted, accessible and rooted in the communities they serve.

The North East has some of the greatest mental health needs in the country. It also has some incredible charities and community organisations working every day to support people through mental health challenges.
But compassion alone will not keep services open.

Without proper funding, support and commitment from those in positions of power, charities will continue to struggle to meet demand. The gap between NHS services and the voluntary sector will continue to grow, and more people will be left waiting, suffering and reaching crisis point.

It is time for decision-makers, funders, commissioners and partners to act.
Mental health must become a real priority for the North East not just in words, but in funding, action and long-term commitment.

Because people in the North East deserve more than warm words.
They deserve support when they need it most.

11/06/2026

65-year-old veteran Dave Bell completed an incredible 100-mile cross-country walk to raise awareness and funds for veterans' mental health.

After months of dedicated training, Dave spent four days walking the challenging route as part of his fundraising effort. His determination and commitment paid off, raising an impressive £1,300 for Anxious Minds, the North East's largest provider of veteran support services.

Dave's achievement highlights the importance of supporting veterans' mental health and the vital work carried out by Anxious Minds across the region.

10/06/2026

Anxious Minds is here to provide better mental health support for people across the North East.

We believe everyone deserves access to help, hope, and a safe place to turn when life feels overwhelming.

Please like and follow our page to support our work and help us reach more people who may need us.

09/06/2026

At 66 years old, ex-Fusilier David Bell has walked an incredible 100 miles across the country to raise vital funds for veterans’ mental health.

David took on the challenge in support of Anxious Minds, helping to raise much-needed funds for the charity’s veteran support work across the North East. His determination and dedication will help provide life-changing mental health support for ex-serving personnel, veterans, and their families when they need it most.

Anxious Minds would like to say a heartfelt thank you to David for his outstanding effort and commitment to supporting those who have served. David started training earlier in the year I walked an average of between 20 and 30 miles a day ending up in Wallsend outside Anxious Minds counselling services.

Anxious Minds CEO, Edward Dean, said: "It is absolutely amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. David has done an amazing thing, both to support the charity and the veterans we serve. We cannot thank him enough from the bottom of our heart."

Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/page/david-bell-2?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

09/06/2026

Did you know Anxious Minds supports hundreds of veterans and their families with mental health every year from across the North East .

If you need help call us on 0191 262 0305