Behind the scenes of the Mental Health Crisis Services at NHFT
Behind the scenes of the Mental Health Crisis Services at NHFT
Over the next month, we will be sharing stories from inside the Mental Health Crisis teams at Northamptonshire Healthcare (NHFT). We will be speaking to colleagues from different teams within the service about what they do, what help they can provide and explaining some of the day-to-day workings of the team. As part of this profiling, we will also be sharing stories from our partners at Northampton Mind, who work together with NHFT to run the Mental Health number and the crisis cafes.
Sometimes, people find themselves in need of urgent support with their mental health and that's where our Crisis Mental Health teams come in. We will be meeting several of the teams that make up our services over the next few weeks, lets introduce them to you now.
The Mental Health Number
The Mental Health number team, who provide a 24-hour helpline, 7 days a week for anyone aged 17.5 and over, living in Northamptonshire. Last year, this service expanded to also provide a text messaging 24/7 support service for those with difficulties using a telephone. Our videos will explain more about this team, what happens when you call or text the service, and they show the huge range of different support options available in Northamptonshire.
Crisis Cafes
We have six crisis cafes in the county. Whilst they are called cafes, they don't provide food, instead they provide quiet, welcoming indoor spaces where you can drop in, get a hot drink and have a chat with someone about your worries or your mental health. They are run by Mind and NHFT colleagues together, and they provide a calm environment for anyone to drop in and talk through any mental health worries or concerns. These are located across Northamptonshire, in Corby, Daventry, Kettering, Northampton, Rushden and Wellingborough. Our stories show you what its like when you enter a crisis café and what you can expect once you walk through the door.
Crisis Response Unit
In 2023, the Crisis Response Unit service was developed, with the aim of responding to a mental health crisis within an hour. This team has a van in which they can travel to a patient or the carer of a patient, if they are in distress or are not able to keep themselves or their loved ones safe. The team works closely with the East Midlands Ambulance Service and where possible, they aim to release paramedics from scenes where there is no physical health need. The van has a seating area where patients and carers can sit in a calm environment before the team formulate a plan of next steps. Our videos will explain how the teams support patients and their families in moments of crisis.
Crisis Houses
We also have two crisis houses which can support individuals to manage their current mental health crisis through solution focused therapies. Referral to a crisis house would happen through other services. You can find out more about these here.
Adam Smith, Director of Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism, said: Our crisis teams provide response services when people need them the most. A mental health crisis looks different for different people, we are here to support 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Follow our social media channels and watch our series on Mental Health Crisis Services, we hope this series gives more understanding of the different crisis services, what to expect if you were to find yourself needing support and reassurance that we are here if you need us.