The Older People’s Community Mental Health team in Thurrock set up the two groups at Grays Town Park Café last August after listening to feedback from patients and their loved ones.
The Club and Diamond group is for people to play games, do some creative activities, or just enjoy a chat over a hot drink.
The Community Coffee Group is aimed at carers and offers a place for them to meet others and get support and advice.
Community Psychiatric Nurse Ray Francis, from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), said: “The feedback we get is very positive. We have had families say they really enjoy coming in because they know we’re there on the same day and time every week, so it’s consistent.
“If we didn’t have these spaces, people would be indoors and possibly struggling.”
Today (21 February) is Mental Health Nurses’ Day, which highlights the work and diversity in mental health nursing.
The Older People’s Community Mental Health team is made up of professionals from EPUT and Thurrock Council, who provide care for people who are mainly aged over 65, and have a mental health condition and cognitive impairment, such as dementia.
The team organise a Positive Wellbeing Day for people who need care or their families and loved ones. They can speak to staff from the team, as well as other services and organisations who can provide help.
This year’s event will take place at Thurrock Community Hospital on 4 July from 1pm to 4pm and will include performances, music and workshops.
Ray (pictured right) said he and his colleagues are always looking at ways they can support patients and their families, either directly or by putting them in touch with other organisations.
Ray, who has been a qualified mental health nurse for 21 years, said: “We want to do everything we can to give people a choice.
“I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without my colleagues and I am really grateful to be part of a lovely team all working together to help our patients and their loved ones.”
Ray often supports people who have been discharged from a mental health or general hospital.
This may include working with patients and their families to create personalised care packages and exploring all options to give them the best support for their needs.
Ray, who has previously worked in rehabilitation and inpatient wards, and a dementia crisis team, said: “It may sound like a cliché, but we aim to treat people as we would like to be treated, or how we would like a family member to be treated.
“That is the type of care we want to put in place, a person-centred, very open and honest approach.
“It can be very scary and daunting for patients and their loved ones when someone becomes ill, and it can be very confusing.
“We understand that, and want to have an open and honest conversation about the support they need so we can reduce the risk of them going back into hospital.”