Urgent and emergency mental support expanded across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, the organisation responsible for providing most of the mental health services in Leicestershire, Leicestershire and Rutland, is has launched an awareness campaign to make people aware of one of its key mental health services that's available to them when they're in a crisis.

The Trust introduced a 24-hour, seven day a week phoneline at the start of the pandemic, which takes calls from people who are in a crisis about their mental health or are calling on behalf of a loved one. Now, LPT want to make sure that all residents in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are aware of all the support.

Fiona Myers, interim director of adult mental health at LPT said: "We've been developing many of these services over the past 18 months, some of them in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, so that people had more support during this incredibly stressful time. We want to make sure that people know about the support that is out there and most importantly, how to get hold of it."

The support that's available from LPT includes:

- A 24-hour, seven day a week phoneline – the Mental Health Central Access Point – for anyone to call in a crisis, for themselves or a loved one 0808 800330 and a poster to support this.

- Crisis Cafes – a new network of drop-in centres that provide a safe space, emotional support and one-to-one sessions for people struggling with mental health issues. No appointment needed.

- A Crisis House – a place of safety where people can go and stay in a crisis. This is open to anyone in a crisis and people are referred there once one of LPT's members of staff have assessed them.

Fiona added: "We are urging everyone to use our services and not to struggle on their own. We are expanding our network of cafes so there will soon be one close to where most people live, but for now, the cafes we have are open to all."

Source: The NHS