Welcome to Open Young Minds

Open Young Minds is a free and confidential young adult’s service. We provide support for young adult’s aged 18-25 years old, who have mild to moderate emotional health issues and live in Heywood, Middleton or Rochdale.

As a community mental health service, we focus on providing you with the time to talk, express yourself and develop and grow the skills, knowledge, tools, and experiences to enable you to take control of your issues. This is done with the support of a Wellbeing Coordinator.

We believe it is vital to offer a specialist service for young people and young adults as this is often a transitionary period of life when people can struggle to cope. It may be that it is the first time you have ever spoken to someone about your issues or that you have come to us via other services.

Lots of young adults find adult services do not meet their needs – our service aims to bridge that gap and aid in the transition to adult services if and when the time is right for you.

We are ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) aware and are experienced in dealing with a range of traumas experienced in childhood and adulthood. We understand the impact of toxic stress and the many ways it can affect people. Our support is guided and led by you and your needs.

Whatever your circumstances, kindness, genuine care, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do.

What services do we offer?

Open Young Minds (18 – 25 years of age)

Our Wellbeing Coordinator works with young adults aged 18 to 25. We invite you to complete our referral form, which will also give you access to our other services. We will chat with you about these at your appointments. As an organisation we offer information, support, and education around emotional wellbeing issues to anyone who asks, no matter what their age.

Counselling for young people (12-18 years of age)

We provide one-to-one Counselling sessions with children and young people aged 12-17 years old. Our free counselling service provides a regular, confidential, safe, and private space for you to think and talk about the worries and problems you are experiencing – all at your own pace. You can have up to 8 weekly sessions.

For young people aged 12-16, we will ask for parental consent or permission to be provided. Referral to this service is via #Thrive, please contact #Thrive on 0161 716 2844.

How do you access our service?

To gain access to our services, please complete a referral form which you will find below.

online referral form

When we receive your completed form we will contact you (within 2 weeks) and invite you to meet with our Wellbeing Coordinator so we get a clear understanding of your circumstances and needs. Appointments can take place face to face at our Wellbeing Centre in Rochdale or over the phone.

Your Wellbeing Coordinator will guide you through the groups and activities we and other organisations have to offer. They will listen to you and help support you to find techniques and ideas that will benefit your wellbeing. 

To enquire further about the service or to find out if it is suitable for you, your loved one, or your client, please contact us at

• 01706752338
• [email protected]

Here’s some feedback we have received

From a GP

‘Thank you so much, it is wonderful that you have contacted all services involved and instigated a coordinated response for this patient. This is how mental health services should be. Thank you for going the extra mile.

From Our Open Young Minds Service Users

I am able to talk in detail about my experiences and issues. Other workers from different services have ‘shut me down’ in the past saying things like ‘I’ve got the gist of what you’re saying’ when I hadn’t finished. You listen and hear. I feel like this is really helping me.

The breathing techniques are working – I’m feeling a lot more calm. It is so helpful being able to come in and speak about the problems I am experiencing and how my past influences these.

I found the sessions really helpful and they made me open up which I thought I could never do. … was really kind, caring, thoughtful and very friendly and welcoming. I loved the sessions with her, she never pressured me or forced me to do something I didn’t want to do. She always took my feelings and thoughts into consideration on everything. The sessions helped me, making me more confident and encouraging me to look at things differently. They made me less shy. I feel more happier. I wish I could carry on the sessions but I know they have helped me so much. I can see how far I have come and I can’t thank … enough for everything she has done. Thank you … , you have made me a better person and you really helped.

I have been very anxious about coming here and was anxious when I arrived. You have put me at ease and are very friendly. I stopped feeling anxious during our session and so think I will be OK next time.

I can’t thank you enough for all the help and support you have given me. You have been so patient listening to my worries and the advice you have given has really helped me. I could not have done this without you. Thank you so much.

I started therapy/counselling/ seeking help back when I was around 17 I think. In that time I have seen 4 or 5 professionals. I can firmly say that you are the one I have found myself to be the most comfortable with. I have found it a struggle for myself to open up , which I still do now however can see myself letting the barriers down more and more. I really look forward to coming seeing you and see it as a safe space to where I can really take a step back and have that deep breath and offload that I need. As I’ve said I don’t really feel like I have a support system , so by meeting you and coming to the sessions , it is something I am really happy about and happy that I have actually found somewhere and someone that I can do so. As I said I do struggle opening up as I think it’s something deep down I am scared of. However over time I feel like this is something that will improve on for certain. I’m really happy with how the sessions are going , I just wish they were more frequent. Thank you for the time you offer , you do a great job and id say I’m lucky to be able to come and talk to you.