Millions of patients experiencing a mental health
crisis can now benefit from support
through 111, the NHS has announced
today.
The change means the NHS in England is one of the first countries
in the world to offer access to a 24/7
full package of mental health crisis support through
one single phone line.
People of all ages, including children, who are in crisis or
concerned family and loved ones can now call 111, select the
mental health option and speak to a trained mental health
professional.
NHS staff can guide callers with next steps such organising
face-to-face community support or facilitating access to
alternatives services, such as crisis cafés or safe havens which
provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to A&E
or a hospital admission.
Previously, local health systems had their own separate phone
lines, which were fast-tracked during the pandemic and took
around 200,000 calls per month.
For people who need support at A&E, if there is a risk to
life, every emergency department in England now also has a
liaison psychiatric team available to offer specialist
care.
NHS Talking Therapy Services are also available for people who
need help with other mental conditions such as anxiety,
depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and PTSD and anyone can
refer themselves online via nhs.uk or by contacting
their GP.
The NHS continues to advise people to call 999 if there is a
serious risk to life.
NHS National Director for Mental Health,
Claire Murdoch, said: “We know that record
numbers of people are suffering with their mental health, and we
want to ensure that when people are in crisis, they have easy,
straightforward access to the support they
need.
“While the NHS made significant progress during the pandemic with
local services creating their own crisis phone lines, we want to
go a step further by giving people everywhere in England one
single point of access via NHS 111.
“And in doing so, I am extremely proud that we will become one of
the first countries in the world to offer a free universal
package of support to people through one easy to access phone
line.
“The new integrated service can give people of all ages
specialist mental health support and ensure they can be offered
face-to-face support in a safe and therapeutic environment.
“So, if you or someone you know needs urgent mental health
support, please call 111, and
select the mental health option.”
Minister of State for Care, , said: “As part of
our plans to help fix the broken health system we want to ensure
we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical
health.
“For the first time, there is one number you can call whether you
are feeling physically unwell or worried about your mental health
to access the support you might need.
“Separately, we are prioritising mental health by recruiting an
additional 8,500 mental health workers to reduce delays and
provide faster treatment alongside reforming the Mental Health
Act.”
Rethink Mental Illness Chief Executive, Mark Winstanley,
said: “A mental health crisis is traumatic and
disorientating, and getting help as quickly as possible is vital.
The last thing people need when they or a loved one is in crisis,
is uncertainty about where to turn.
"Today, the NHS have made it easier to access urgent support via
111, building on provision already in place through crisis lines.
We welcome this important step, and hope it will make it simpler
for people to access the help they need.”
A full list of mental health support options is available
via the NHS website. The service
is also suitable for deaf people, with tailored services
available via the NHS 111 website.
Free listening services are also provided by charities such
as The
Samaritans or Shout Crisis text
line.
The NHS has invested an extra £2.3 billion
into expanding mental health services, and this latest innovation
will help patients in crisis get directed to the support they
need quickly.
The health service has met its ambition to expand
community mental health treatment by 370,000 people per year for
patients with severe mental illness.
