Mental health charity Mind has a number of initiatives in West Cumbria to help people struggling with mental health issues.

It currently offers one-to-one counselling, drop-in sessions and family support, with plans to add cookery lessons, develop an exercise project and launch a book club for members.

Chairman Dr Brian Campbell said: "We have 300 clients on our books. We try to have contact with 100 people per week. Some won't need to be seen every week.

"Common mental health issues are common. All of us have mental health, one in four are likely to suffer from diagnosable mental health problems. Severe mental health problems are still quite rare.

"Statutory mental health services are really stretched, you can wait three to seven months for an appointment. If you're at the end of your tether, three months is not much good.

"We try to see people immediately, especially if there's a threat of self-harm.

"We can give some time and activity that a GP doesn't have time to do."

One of the doctor's ideas to tackle social isolation and other issues is launching a book club, starting with 'Travels with Charley', a book by one of his favourite authors, John Steinbeck.

He said: "If you've got a character in literature with problems, it can be easier to talk about them than yourself. It can enable them to articulate their problems."

Dr Campbell is also hoping to combat weekend woes with a new initiative.

He said: "My worry is our provision tends to be weekdays, our last community drop-in is Thursday. I'm hoping to be able to put on film screenings on Saturday afternoons."

Mind in West Cumbria holds drop-in sessions at the Carnegie Theatre in Workington from 10am until 12pm, at Flimby Social Club from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and Wigton Methodist Church from 12pm to 2pm on a Tuesday.

On Wednesday, they meet in Maryport Methodist Church between 10am and 12pm, in the Best Life building, in Workington, from 10am to 12pm, and between 11am and 1pm in Whitehaven's Unity building.

There is also a drop-in at Workington's Masonic Hall between 12pm and 2pm.

For more information on the charity, visit Mind in West Cumbria on Facebook or go to www.mindinwestcumbria.org.uk