A housing scheme providing specialist support to young people experiencing mental health challenges opened in West London on World Suicide Prevention Day (Tuesday, 10 September).

Based in Oaklands and St Kilda's Ealing, the service is run by specialist housing association and mental health support provider Look Ahead, and offers bespoke community-based rehabilitation to young people at risk of homelessness.

Two newly refurbished Victorian townhouses will provide specialist supported accommodation for up to 12 young people aged 18-25 with mental health needs.

The two sites include generous communal spaces, landscaped gardens and separate garden annexes which will be used for therapeutic activities.

The launch on World Suicide Prevention Day comes after landmark research, published in The Guardian last year, found stark gaps between adolescent and adult mental health services, concluding that A&E departments had become an 'accidental hub' for young people experiencing mental crisis. 

Funded by Wates Family Enterprise Trust, the report further highlighted that young people had to have attempted suicide multiple times to be admitted into in-patient mental health care.

Look Ahead provides supported housing and social care services for people who have a range of needs across London (credit: Look Ahead).

Look Ahead CEO Chris Hampson said: "Our previous research found that mental health support for young adults in the UK had arguably reached crisis point.

"Eighteen months on, we are delighted to announce the opening of our brand new Oaklands and St Kilda Service, representing a positive response to these ongoing challenges, while also highlighting the power of partnership in driving better mental health support outcomes for young people.

"By providing the right support and care in partnership with the NHS alongside high quality, psychologically informed environments in beautifully restored buildings, we can help to prevent these young people from getting stuck in the revolving discharge of hospital admission and discharge." 

The new Oaklands and St Kilda's service will increase the capacity for supporting young people away from hospital settings in local communities, while reducing pressures on already stretched A&E departments.

Look Ahead say the service will be staffed by a highly trained, specialist staff team, offering 24/7 support. Residents will benefit from expert support from NHS psychologists and specialist mental health charities.

Tim Wates, Chairman of the Wates Group commented: "Community-based supported living settings offer a powerful alternative to hospital for young people experiencing a mental health crisis. We hope to see this model rolled out nationwide and for more and more young people to recover and move on with their lives these supportive environments.

"It is encouraging to see that the recommendations of the research that Wates Family Enterprise Trust funded have been implemented with the opening of this new service."

The scheme is set to provide a national blueprint for how young people with mental health needs can access specialist support in high quality, homely environments through new supported housing models.

The project was supported by property industry charity LandAid; SEGRO; the UK Real Estate Investment Trust; Property Race Day; The Story of Christmas Appeal; and the Greater London Authority. In total, external partners provided more than £1 million in funding.

Two newly refurbished Victorian townhouses will provide specialist supported accommodation for up to 12 young people aged 18-25 with mental health needs (credit: Look Ahead).

Alice Lamb, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Operations at LandAid, added: "LandAid are thrilled to have supported the St Kilda and Oaklands Road service and look forward to seeing the positive impact that the space will have on the lives of countless young people facing homelessness across London.

"Sadly, we have seen the youth homelessness crisis worsen year on year and the need has never been greater. This is why collective and innovative action across sectors and organisations is so important." 

Neil Impiazzi, Partnership Development Director at SEGRO, said: "At SEGRO, we believe that long-term collaboration, is critical for tackling youth homeless and helping vulnerable young people to live happy and fulfilling lives.

"Look Ahead's innovative mental health service provides young people with the specialised support they need to thrive." 

James Aumonier, Chairman of Property Race Day said: "The Property Race Day is delighted to have been able to support this wonderful project. Our longstanding relationship with LandAid since the inception of our charity racing event has enabled us to support this important and much needed housing project for young people."