Loughborough GP is launching a charity to help mental health patients

A Leicestershire GP has set up a mental health charity to give patients more time with a doctor.

Dr Annette Durant, 48, launched the Community Food and Wellbeing Hub after noticing an increase in her patients suffering from stress and anxiety.

The partner at Bridge Street Medical Practice, Loughborough, now hosts weekly wellbeing sessions every Thursday from 09:00 to 14:30 for its patients.

She said the sessions helped patients deal with the root causes of their problems.

Charity MIND said two out of five appointments in the UK are now related to mental illness.

In response to the increase in patients, Dr. Durant launched a program where patients can have longer discussions with a family doctor, meet others who are dealing with depression and learn skills to improve their mental well-being.

She said she was motivated to launch the charity in 2021 after being unable to find a community space that included wellbeing events with the expertise of a GP on hand to answer questions.

The doctor said that on some days, half of her routine surgery appointments are related to mental illness.

“I recognize there are patients who can come in to see us (for surgery), but for those who can’t, coming into their community can give them easier access and information and knowledge to manage their problems,” she said.

Rachel Forbes Carpenter, 50, attended the wellbeing sessions at Fearon Hall in the Leicestershire town.

“I just went through a recent crisis and the staff here took such good care of me,” she said.

“I don’t know if I’d still be here if it hadn’t been for Fearon Hall.”

She also praised Dr. Durant, adding, “He takes the time to listen to me with my concerns and those worries that you can’t really talk to a doctor about,” she said.