First 24/7 neighbourhood mental health unit welcomed by RCPsych

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Today, NHS England has opened the first neighbourhood mental health centre to offer round-the-clock support for people with mental illness.

Responding to the launch, Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:

“We welcome the launch of this new centre, which aims to help people with mental illness access psychiatric treatment and wider social support closer to home and as soon as they need it. 

“A neighbourhood health approach can reduce the likelihood of people developing a worsening of their illness and ensure their housing, financial and other needs are met. It has been shown to improve partnership working between mental health services and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, as has been exemplified by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. 

“People with severe mental illness, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, often have very complex needs and experience difficulties accessing additional forms of support such as accommodation, physical health care and education services. New 24/7 pilot centres have an important role to play but will not be a replacement for the targeted and specialist care these patients need.  

“This new centre builds on the principles and guidance set out in the NHSE-commissioned Community Mental Health Framework, a neighbourhood approach which was designed by the College, and should be used to help NHSE implement a 24/7 model of care.  

“Local areas must be supported to continue to implement neighbourhood approaches in a way that meets their population’s needs and consistently drives up standards. This will require additional investment in community mental healthcare. 

“We look forward to seeing the results of this extension of our approach and urge that there must be implementation of clinically led, evidence-based models of care that more effectively meet people’s needs.”