Update on urgent mental health support

We have been working with partner organisations to make sure people have access to urgent mental health support during the coronavirus outbreak.

Our safer space service, The Sanctuary, has been moved to telephone support and is still open between 6pm and 1am every day. Other organisations which provide crisis services, including The Cellar Trust, Creative Support and Bradford Youth Service, have also moved staff onto phone lines. These can all be accessed by calling First Response on 0800 952 1181.

We are working together to make sure that our trained staff are ready to listen and support people who are experiencing a mental health crisis at this difficult time.

Safer space services offer a calm and supportive environment for people in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven who are experiencing emotional distress and are often an alternative to hospital admission. Sixteens and over are referred to Haven at The Cellar Trust between 10am and 6pm and The Sanctuary, run by Mind in Bradford, between 6pm and 1am. There is a separate safer space for children, young people and parents; the service will be taking referrals and offering phone support 9am through to 7am (22 hours) Monday to Friday and 7pm to 7am (12 hours) on weekends.

Referrals can be made through First Response and Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

Government restrictions mean face-to-face contact is limited across health sectors. Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is advising people who needed urgent mental health support to call First Response on 0800 952 1181 in the first instance. Examples include having thoughts about life not being worth living, feeling out of control or unable to cope, self-harming and hearing voices.

BDCT advise: “We have lots of experienced telecoaches ready to take calls and assess people’s needs. The most important step is to make the call so we can help anyone in distress at this difficult time and help keep them safe. We will be able to refer people to different services across the district and prevent people being admitted to hospital.”

• If you need urgent mental health support and live in the Bradford and Craven districts, call First Response on 0800 952 1181. Lines are open all day, every day for all ages.
• If you live outside the area, call the Samaritans on 116 123.
• For non-urgent telephone support in the Bradford & Craven districts, call Guide-Line on 01274 594594.
• If you need urgent medical attention, call 999 immediately.

Posted on: 31st March 2020