A CAFE designed to give people a safe space to talk about their mental health has opened its doors.

Keep The Heid Mental Health Cafe has already proven successful in Haddington.

Now, a year after its launch, a second cafe has opened in Tranent.

Sessions run every Tuesday in the town’s The Fraser Centre.

Emma Jackson, founder of the cafe, is passionate about the need for community services to complement NHS support.

She said: “GP surgeries are experiencing unprecedented levels of demand from people presenting with mental health problems.

“According to Mind, the mental health charity, 40 per cent of appointments relate to mental health.

“A free community-based service like Keep The Heid can offer support to people locally and give them the opportunity to meet with people facing similar problems.”

Sessions start at 7pm with a cup of tea and cake, and no booking or referral is required, nor a formal diagnosis.

The main session starts at 7.30pm with a mindfulness meditation led by a professional facilitator.

Attendants are then invited to share details of what has affected their mental health that week.

Feedback from those attending the Haddington session, which takes place in the Trinity Centre, has been positive.

One person said: “Mental ill health is a lonely existence.

“The cafe has offered good company and a space to be heard and not judged.

“I like the idea of dropping in as and when I can, and it always offers the same safe space.

“Love the tea and the nibbles and the relaxed atmosphere.

“I feel the cafe has helped me even if I don’t feel like talking at the meetings.”

To find out more about the café, find it on Facebook at bit.ly/3iyPsKq or call 07548 136575.