Mental health is something that affects many of us at some stage of our lives, and many of us may be experiencing particular difficulties coping with the effects of the coronavirus lockdown.
In line with Mental Health Awareness Week, taking place in the UK this week, the ECHO is highlighting local initiatives that provide key mental health support to those in need.
James' Place, located on Catharine Street, opened its doors in June 2018 offering specific mental health support for men in a time of crisis and is geared towards suicide prevention.
It was founded by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley following the tragic death of their son James Wentworth-Stanley who tragically took his own life aged 21 who developed suicidal thoughts after an operation in 2006.
The team at James' Place work alongside Mersey Care, which delivers mental health services across Merseyside, and other local groups as part of a region wide Zero Suicide approach.
To date, it has supported more than 300 men experiencing a suicidal crisis and has delivered over 1,000 therapy sessions.
A new James' Place, located in London, will also be opening its door later this year.
Jane Boland, the centre manager at James' Place, said that since its foundation two years ago, told of how James' Place has developed into a key hub providing crisis mental health to men throughout Merseyside.
Jane told the ECHO: "In the space of two years we've really built up our capacity and capability. We now provide around 30 men each week with tailored support at any one time.
"In James' case, he'd never had a history of mental health problems and he became overwhelmed by suicidal thoughts and was in a very specific suicidal crisis where he needed help immediately- and remember this was in 2006 and we've come a long way since then with mental health.
"People can self refer to us but they can also refer a loved one if they think they are in crisis. A third of the men who we see are referred to us by either their girlfriend or their mother."
Hundreds of men have been helped by the team of therapists and staff at James' Place since it opened two years ago.
Dan Morgan, 33, from Liverpool, experienced a downturn in his mental health last year following the loss of his mum and his nan in a short period of time.
He was referred to James' Place after the previous help he sought had failed.
Speaking about his experiences, Dan said he previously hadn't spoken to others about his thoughts because he didn't want to 'burden' others.
He told the ECHO: "The first thing that struck me when I walked through the door at James' Place was the space.
"It's amazing. It feels very homely, and its a place where you feel you can talk to staff and for me it helped massively that I could speak to the right people who could help me.
"I think the reason it helped me is because I find it easier to talk to a professional. Some people find that alien but, for me, if you talk to friends and family you get emotional advice rather than what you actually need to hear.
"I've lived on my own for a long time and I didn't want to feel like a burden on anybody when I needed help.
"They gave me the tools to understand what I was going through which allowed me to work on ways to fix how I was feeling."
During the coronavirus epidemic and the nationwide lockdown, research suggests that the nation's mental health has suffered considerably.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, one quarter of UK adults have experienced increased loneliness, with young people particularly affected.
Centre Manager Jane said that, despite the lockdown, James' Place is continuing to offer support through remote therapy sessions over video call or over the phone.
She added: "It's vital that people know we are still here during the coronavirus pandemic and that we are offering support via video calls and over the phone.
"The current scenario does have its challenges. We set up James' Place to be a a special place and put a lot of thought into the environment and it's less easy to do therapy in your own home.
"We are a charity and we are wholly dependant on charitable donations- as well as a small amount we get from Liverpool CCG for specific services around bereavement.
"If you are a man who needs help or there's a man in your life who you think needs help then I would say contact us and, even if it is not an emergency, we will find someone who can help if we can't.
"If you are worried about someone and you think they might be thinking about taking their own life then you should ask them. That's the way to find out and then we can see what's available in terms of support."
You can visit James' Place's website by clicking here.
