A MENTAL health charity is to be relaunched in Wiltshire, with ambitious plans to open new drop-in centres and provide more help and support to those struggling with mental health issues.

Wiltshire Mind is an independent charity providing support and friendship as well as counselling services, information and advice, to people with a range of conditions including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

New chief executive David Mckeigue said the rural nature of the county means that the population is dispersed among many small communities, which can mean poor access to mental health services.

In addition there is an increasingly ageing population, so more people are falling into a section of the population that is more at risk of mental health problems.

“By 2016, we anticipate that the number of people aged 65 and over will be just over a fifth of the county population and by 2021 this will continue to grow to be nearly a quarter of the county population,” he said.

“Consequently, there will be a much greater demand for mental health services such as these provided by Wiltshire Mind – and the statistics clearly show that the problem is getting bigger in Wiltshire.”

The charity is looking to increase awareness of the services it offers and to boost the amount coming in through fundraising.

For more information go to wiltshiremind.co.uk.