A BUSINESS which has invested in its own mental health recovery programme is in the running for one of The Argus’s 2016 Community Stars Awards.

Southdown Housing Association, a substantial not-for-profit organisation, runs a mental health recovery service providing support for thousands of vulnerable children and adults across Sussex.

It has been nominated for the Business In The Community Award, sponsored by digital communications company AVT.

Every year South Down Housing Association’s mental health recovery service, which cares for people across Sussex, helps more than 2,000 people.

Martin Dominy, head of mental health services at Southdown, said: “It is vital we continue to highlight the issue and encourage people to take that all important first step to seek support.

“Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to what is happening right now, by observing your thoughts, feelings and physical sensations and your surroundings with an open mind and without judging.

“It can help us to stay focused.”

The programme offers a range of mental health recovery services for people who need support to manage mental health challenges.

It focuses not only on people's mental health challenges but their total wellbeing and recovery, and services are free for people aged 18 years and over.

Ellen Rose, 38, from Seven Dials, has battled severe clinical depression and other mental health problems but now volunteers at the centre.

She found support and friendship, years after attempting to take her own life as a child, when she spotted a leaflet about courses at the Southdown Recovery College. She is now a peer trainer at the college.

She said: “The support and friendship I got from the other students and peer trainers was amazing. I then decided to study to become a peer trainer myself.”

She teaches others how to cope in similar situations to those she encountered as one of 17 peer trainers leading 20 courses at the college each term.

She said: “What appealed was the practical support as well as meeting others. Although initially daunting, I found everyone so friendly and welcoming. This alone made the whole experience rewarding and fun.

“The courses I took gave me new insight and opened up a future for me. The support and friendship I got from the other students and peer trainers was amazing.

“I went from not going out by myself to delivering a speech at the graduation event.

If you wish to contact the recovery service you can call 01273 565 049 or visit southdownhousing.org/mental-health-recovery