The Charity MIND and the NHS have opened the UK's first mental health and wellbeing café in West London. 

The service, called Circle, provides drop-ins and appointments for mental health support for anyone under the age of 18. 

Circle is situated on South Ealing Road in Ealing and has been designed to be a calm environment with café facilities for young people. 

Nana Owusu, Director of Children & Young People's Services at HFEH Mind said: "A&E departments are already overstretched and often not the best place for a young person in crisis who's already feeling distressed and overwhelmed. 

"Circle provides a much-needed safe space and immediate support for young people who reach a crisis point with their mental health." 

The café has been set up by Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind (HFEH MIND) in partnership with NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) across North West London. 

Young people can self-refer themselves to go to Circle or be referred there by a school, social care, A&E, or CAMHS crisis services and it is open between 3pm-11pm on weekdays and 12-8pm on weekends. 

Dr Johan Redlinghuys, Clinical Director for North West London CAMHS Provider Collaborative said: "Opening the Circle is a significant landmark in our strive to make sure young people in mental health crisis are treated by the right people, in the right place, as quickly as possible. 

"Demand for NHS mental health services continues to increase and so by putting in place a specialist hub to support young people across North West London, we hope this will reduce pressure on A&E units and set a benchmark for other similar services across the NHS." 

Circle will initially be open on an 18-month trial basis and will be monitored by those involved to measure its success. 

The café will also be staffed with both clinical and non-clinical highly specialised Crisis Support Navigators from HFEH Mind who have a background in CAMHS and crisis care. 

Hounslow Council's Cabinet Member for Children, Learning and Employment, Councillor Lily Bath, said: "The theme for this year's Children's Mental Health Week is all about making connections. 

"So, this fantastic new facility will provide a space for our young people to meet with professionals and their peers Ito discuss any issues they may be facing. 

"The Circle will provide a valuable lifeline to those children, young people and their parents and carers who may be facing a crisis. 

"The opening of the centre sends the message that our children and young people have someone and somewhere to turn to for help and they do not have to face life's challenges alone." 

To find out more about Circle, visit the website. 

(Header image by Coffee Geek - Starbucks Secret)