A 'FAST access' centre for young people facing mental health difficulties to get treatment has opened its doors in the heart of Oxford.

Independent provider The Priory Group, which runs private mental healthcare hospitals and clinics across the UK, has set up a 'Wellbeing Centre' in New Inn Hall Street.

The £300,000 site will offer therapy and treatments for a range of conditions including depression, anxiety, stress, anger management, eating disorders and addictions.

Young people will be able to get swift access to affordable assessment and treatment as well as student support services.

The group's clinical director of wellbeing centres, psychiatrist Dr Hayley van Zwanenberg, is part of the team beginning to put down roots in Oxford.

She said: "It is a pleasure to be able to assess and treat young people in the wellbeing clinics, especially in Oxford, where there has been a need for some time.

"Assisting young people to recover swiftly from mental illness and to learn strategies that will serve them well throughout their life is very rewarding."

Research published by the Education Policy Institute in 2016 found that 23 per cent of young people referred to specialist mental health services are turned away.

It also found that 66.9 per cent those aged 16-34 who had attempted suicide had not subsequently received medical or psychological help.

Dr van Zwanenberg said: "Our ethos is to promote early assessment and diagnosis, which stops unnecessary suffering for children, adolescents and their families.

"We hope that by offering a friendly, discreet service that is accessible and convenient, we can play a part in supporting all our patients towards better quality of life."

The new centre in Thomas Hull House will be staffed by consultant psychiatrists, psychologists and a range of individual, group and family therapists.

It takes referrals from individuals, GPs and schools and will accept self-funding patients as well as those with health insurance.

Therapy costs start from £100 an hour and the centre has reminded people that health insurance covers mental health assessment and treatment as well as physical health.

The Oxford site is the latest in a series of Wellbeing Centres to be launched following openings in Birmingham, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London and other major cities.

Dion Webster, manager of the Oxford Wellbeing Centre, said: "Wellbeing Centres have proven incredibly popular and valuable.

"In London assessments of new patients doubled between 2015-6 and we are pleased to be able to provide an accessible and much-needed resource for those who need us."

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