A mental health hub founded to combat isolation among the most vulnerable in society has hit back at coronavirus by going 'virtual'.

Talk It Out co-founder Tracy Carr and her committee made the tough decision to close the Deal base, used by people with anxiety and depression, on Tuesday.

The volunteer run service has previously been acknowledged by Kent Police for reducing the number of crisis calls by 75% in the area, with users, themselves, referring to it as their lifeline.

But in the face of adversity, Ms Carr has ensured members can till access support, just via a different means - through a morning video call.

She has said none of it would be possible without modern technology, namely the internet, which she believes is saving people from suicide.

She said: "We've created a virtual hub.

"I tell members what time I'm going to call. It's around 11am which is when we usually open our hub. And then all of these little faces pop up.

"It's such a scary time as we all suffer with anxiety and depression and all of sudden this lifeline has stopped.

"But we're making the best of a bad situation and it's working so far."

Mrs Carr said she does her best to make members laugh and people are enjoying the novelty of accessing friendship while in the comfort of their own homes.

She said: "We make sure we have a laugh. We all sit there with our cups of tea and admire each other's mugs.

"Some aren't used to technology so we end up looking up their nostrils!

"I don't know what we would be doing without the internet. It's saving people from suicide."

Talk It Out was founded as a weekly support group by Mrs Carr and retired psychotherapist Marie Jordan nine years ago.

It grew to include a private Facebook page where people could share their problems and in June 2016, saw the opening of its wellbeing hub.

It continues to be a non clinical environment offering advice and peer support from 11am until 1pm Monday to Friday.

Up to 100 members week regularly attend, some of whom are on the verge of suicide.

During this pandemic, the service is making daily telephones calls to members who aren't computer literate and especially keeping a close eye on those who are high risk.

Its four councillors are now offering their services over the phone or virtually.

Anyone feeling isolated who would like to join the virtual hub is encouraged to connect with Tracy Carr on Facebook. She will then arrange access to the private group.

She added: "It will be hard times but I think this will pull so many of us back together. The world had become disjointed and I think this is a chance to make it all right again."

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