A mental health charity has opened a new wellbeing centre in Hatfield, and named it in honour of a man who tragically took his own life.
Mind in Mid Herts has opened Alon's Wellbeing Centre at 56 Town Centre on Wednesday, with the facility offering day services on weekdays and a Nightlight Crisis Café running every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 7pm to 1am.
The new centre has been named in memory of Alon, a young man from St Albans who tragically took his own life on Christmas Day in 2016, with his parents, Ehud and Shlomit Eliashar, making a generous donation to ensure that others in the community have access to crucial mental health support.
NHS England Urgent Emergency Care, who awarded a Capital Grant to make the service happen, also played a key funding role.
Alon's Wellbeing Centre is a significant step towards Mind in Mid Herts plans to create Alon's House - a proposed centre providing support for those reaching out with mental health concerns, operating both day and evening services seven days a week.
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"It's amazing. We've been waiting for this day a long, long time, and it's only the first step because in the end, we'll get to the main centre. That's what we're hoping for.” said Ehud, Alon’s father.
"Mind In Mid Herts means a lot to us as Shlomit volunteered for a few years before we lost Alon.
"It's a place that does marvellous things. The things that happen there and the things they do for people of all sorts of ages and helping them in a variety of ways is amazing. And we couldn't find a better place to want to try and make something that will commemorate Alon."
Mind in Mid Herts CEO, Sharn Tomlinson, added: "We are so proud of this new centre, which is so easy and accessible for people to get to.
"It makes so much sense for us to be located on the high street normalising the conversation about mental health."
Councillor Pankit Shah, Mayor of Welwyn Hatfield was in attendance at the opening, continuing: "Our shared commitment to mental health is not just a duty, but a collective responsibility that defines the strength and resilience of our community.
"This centre will deliver services for people experiencing a mental health crisis and those in need of support and ensuring no one feels alone when they need help.
"As the mayor of this incredible community, I am proud to be supportive of an organisation that values the mental health of every individual."
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