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From October 2024 to the end of March 2026 we delivered flexible, community-based therapeutic support to Sandwell adults experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and bereavement - helping people get the right support at the right time, in a way that worked for them. Sessions were delivered face-to-face in community settings, by phone, and online/video (with home visits where required), reducing barriers linked to anxiety, disability, transport, caring responsibilities and language.
Key achievements
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- High demand and strong take-up: TT+ received 1,058 referrals and supported 824 people to enter treatment.
- Joined-up access through the SPA: a consistent triage process helped people reach the right support first time, and supported onward referrals/signposting where appropriate.
- Timely therapeutic support: the average wait from referral to first session was 38 calendar days.
- Therapy delivered in ways people could actually use: phone, online/video and community-based face-to-face sessions (including home visits where needed) enabled engagement for people who would otherwise struggle to attend appointments.
- Reaching people excluded from statutory routes: TT+ proactively engaged excluded communities including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, migrants and Eastern European communities, and people requiring interpreter/language support - groups known to be under-represented in NHS Talking Therapies.
- Improved mental health for people completing support: where paired outcome scores were recorded, participants showed significant meaningful improvement in anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9), with many moving out of severe clinical ranges by discharge.
- People told us it made a difference: 98.5% felt listened to and understood; 98.5% were satisfied with the service; and 97.4% said it made a positive difference to them.
TT+ shows what is possible when therapeutic support is designed around accessibility and real-life barriers. For many residents, it provided a route into support that reduced isolation, improved wellbeing, and helped people regain stability and coping strategies. We’re grateful to all delivery partners and referrers, and to our funder Black Country Healthcare NHS Trust for making this possible.
Talking Therapies Plus was delivered by our partners, Kaleidoscope Plus Group, Life in Community, European's Welfare Association, Sandwell African and Caribbean Mental Health Foundation, Cruse and Breakthru CIC
This project was funded by:
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I had spent years trying to get the right help and was often told I needed to go elsewhere first. By the time I reached this service, I was feeling suicidal, overwhelmed and close to breaking down, but I knew I needed face-to-face support and the chance to really talk.
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