MENTAL health charity Hafal is helping people be more independent and achieve their goals in Newport.

The centre on Duckpool Road held an open day on Tuesday to raise awareness about what it has to offer.

Rachel Ayriss, a recovery practitioner who has been with the charity for three years, said the open day gained them a new referral.

The charity caters for people with a range of mental health issues from schizophrenia, bi-polar, severe depression and anxiety to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Currently, the Newport branch, helps around 30 people who have self-referred to the charity, which includes 10 to 15 carers who can come along to the carers group which is held every first Tuesday of the month.

The centre offers a variety of activities from puzzles, arts and crafts, music to poetry and is open Monday to Friday except Wednesday's from 10am to 3pm.

Ms Ayriss said: "From my point of view my daughter is bi-polar and was basically not being offered any help, support or advice from the health service. To find somewhere that take you seriously and listen to you was such a relief when you are going through it."

She said there is very little information for carers and the charity’s support group for carers is a place for them to relax and share experiences.

The mother said the charity is a place people can turn to who are not going to discriminate and encourages people to talk about mental health problems.

She added: "We encourage service users to look at life differently - to split it into different areas such as finance, accommodation, social life for example. We encourage them to set a goal to work towards in an area they have a problem in - to set an achievable goal, each step is helping them work towards it.

"We can see people moving forwards - we are not going to cure mental health problems but it does help. It's about maintaining a decent standard of living."

The centre offer classes in independent living skills such as basic cooking, housekeeping, and budgeting along with a lunch club.

A first aid class specific for mental health will take place on September 13.

For more information about Hafal in Newport contact 01633 264 763 or via email to newport@hafal.org

The charity has centres in Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire and Torfaen, visit hafal.org to find out more.