EMOTION Gyms, run by the NHS in Farnham to help people deal with common emotional and mental health issues have been hailed by residents who attended.

The sessions, which have now been running for several years and move around the Surrey County Council area throughout the year, were a big hit with Farnham residents during September.

One person who attended a session said there was a “brilliant open forum, [I was] able to ask questions and get valuable answers,” while another said the course was “very informative and helpful”.

The six sessions in Farnham were anonymous, required no registration and were designed to be commitment-free and cover topics from self-esteem to dealing with stress at work and at home.

They were led by Mental Health Advisors from First Steps Surrey, which is provided by Virgin Care. The Farnham sessions were attended by 30 people.

Another patient said they had found benefit in attending all of the sessions: “Together as a group they offer good practice for some of the techniques.”

Others praised the “very friendly” First Steps Surrey team, with one person adding: “The sessions make sense.”

Jemma Millman, service manager for First Steps, said: “The Emotion Gyms are always a huge success, so it is fantastic to hear that the people who come along to the sessions find them so useful.

“Men in particular often feel that they can’t talk to their GP or anyone else about their problems, and these sessions give them a way of making the first steps and getting help without having to give lots of details or make a commitment.”

The sessions in Farnham have now come to an end, but return in Redhill from November 2. Help is also available from First Steps online at www.firststeps-surrey.nhs.uk.