The UK's first Recovery College has been formally opened in Tooting.

Health Minister, Paul Burstow, opened the South West London Recovery College, based at Springfield University Hospital, last Thursday.

He met students, mental health practitioners and peer trainers at the educational facility, which will provide recovery education for people with mental health conditions, their families, carers and friends, and trust staff.

Mr Burstow said: "The South West London Recovery College is the first of its kind in this country, providing educational courses to help people even with the most severe mental health conditions recover."

Judy Wilson, chief executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, added: "Our Recovery College is at the forefront of developing mental health services which shift the focus away from purely therapeutic support towards an educational approach which aims to build people’s skills and confidence in managing their illness.

"While it is still early days, we are finding that the majority of those students who complete their courses have needed less contact with community mental health services on leaving the college."