A RECOVERY house will soon open in Weymouth to help people with mental health problems.

The seven-bed property is set to provide short-term accommodation and support for those struggling to be at home across west Dorset.

It is being run by the charity Rethink Mental Illness in partnership with NHS Dorset and will launch next month. Guests will have been assessed by the local mental health service and found to need urgent help with their mental health.

Mental health recovery worker Colin Cameron-Clarke, who will be based in the recovery house, said: “The Recovery House supports people in an acute mental health crisis who require a stable, supported and homely environment on a very short term basis.”

He added: “Rethink Mental Illness staff support guests with life skills to help them carry out day to day tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, budgeting and paperwork.

“We look at the causes of the crisis and work with guests to find solutions or to identify coping strategies to prevent future relapse.”

It is hoped the house will provide an alternative to hospital admission in a less institutional setting.

House manager Deborah Rodin said residents can stay up to 14 nights in the house which has seven private bedrooms, a communal kitchen and lounge as well as a small garden.

“We have made the house comfortable and safe like an ordinary home. “There are always two members of staff on duty at all times and other mental health professionals will visit on most days.”

Similar recovery houses have been opened across the country and are proving a huge success.

Jane Brennan, project leader for NHS Dorset, said the house will be an important asset for Weymouth which has got 'quite a prolific rate for mental health.'

David Moorehead, area manager for Rethink, said: “It will be for people in west Dorset who have reached a crisis point and may be too distressed to be at home, but don't need to go into hospital.”

Mr Cameron-Clarke added: “We believe keeping people out of hospital where possible is better both for the individual as it is less stressful and for the taxpayer, as it's much more cost effective.”