People聽experiencing a mental health crisis聽can now access support through the NHS 111 service.

Those who are in crisis, or their family and friends, can call the phone number, select the mental health option and speak to a trained mental health professional. The service is for people of all ages, including children and young people.

It means the NHS in England is one of the first countries in the world to offer access to聽a聽24/7 full聽package of mental health crisis support聽through one single phone line.聽

The NHS staff on the end of the phone will be able to organise face-to-face community support or arrange access to alternative services.

In its statement on the change, the NHS has also highlighted how its talking therapy services are 聽available for people who need help with other conditions, such as anxiety and depression.聽

We鈥檙e pleased the NHS is expanding its mental health services with this change to 111, but are also contacting them with further questions to understand more about the finer details of this announcement.

Expansion of crisis care

Matt Smith-Lilley, our Policy and Engagement Lead (Mental Health), said:

鈥淲e welcome an expansion of crisis care, ensuring that support is available for people 24 hours a day, all year round. This announcement is a positive recognition of the vital need to increase access to mental health support in this country.

鈥淭his support must offer access to a range of interventions and services that meet people鈥檚 needs. The capacity of the national mental health services must continue to be built up so there are no gaps in service provision and so all in society can access support.

鈥淎s well as this improved crisis support, we need to see greater investment in early intervention services, such as counselling and psychotherapy, and more therapists employed by the NHS to provide this vital support.鈥�

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.聽聽

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聽available to offer specialist care.聽

The NHS continues to advise people to call 999聽if there is a serious risk to life.聽聽