A helping hand for people who need support out of hours will be on offer with the arrival of a new service in the County Town.

Maidstone and Mid-Kent Mind launched its new Maidstone Crisis Cafe yesterday.

The aim of the cafe, based at the charity’s base in College Road, Maidstone, is to provide a haven for the increasing number of people battling depression, loneliness, isolation, or perhaps even considering suicide.

The service will be open on Fridays between 5pm and 9pm, and on Sundays between 1pm and 5pm.

Julie Blackmore, chief executive at Maidstone and Mid-Kent Mind, explained why this service is so vital: “People often think it’s those who spend a lot of time alone who suffer from mental health problems, but actually a lot of people in employment also need our services in the evenings and on weekends.

“We’re open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday anyway, but now people can access our help out of hours as well.”

The service also hopes to ease the pressure on health services, by helping people who do not require hospital admission.

Mrs Blackmore added: “The cafe will provide people with support and comfort.

“Talking to us, and sharing their experiences, has a terrific therapeutic effect, and we can advise them where to access other services such as group therapy or help with fighting addiction.”

The charity already runs a similar project in Ashford, The Wellbeing Cafe, which opened in October 2015 and now helps around 20 people a week.

This new free service, which has been funded by West Kent CCG, will be staffed by a team of trained mental health wellbeing workers and volunteers, some of whom have overcome their own challenges.

West Kent Mind launched a similar venture, Solace Cafe, in St Mary’s Road, Tonbridge, on Thursday and will be open between 5pm and 9pm on Thursdays and Saturdays.