Mental health crisis support now available through NHS 111

By phoning 111 and selecting the mental health option, callers will be put through to a trained professional.

If necessary, face-to-face community support can be organised or access provided to alternative services.

Dr Hamish McLure, regional NHS medical director, says: "This new integrated service gives patients who need to speak to someone urgently the chance to be listened to by a trained member of staff who can direct them to the right place.

"If you or someone you know requires urgent mental health support, please call 111.

"You'll be guided through the support you may need, including the option of arranging access to alternatives services such as crisis cafes or safe havens."

And NHS director for mental health, Claire Murdoch, says: "Record numbers of people are suffering with their mental health, and we want to ensure that when anyone is in crisis they have straightforward access to support.

"Whilst the NHS made significant progress during the pandemic with local services creating their own crisis phone lines, we wanted to go a step further by giving people one single point of access via NHS 111."