Mental health can suddenly be impacted by a time of emotional stress such as a relationship breakdown, problems with housing or work, or grief.
The feelings can be overwhelming and feel like a breaking point has been reached. An experienced, listening ear at the right time can make all the difference. Community-based, non-medicalised support for these challenging times can bring about a sense of control again, as well as the opportunity to learn coping strategies to prevent or manage future situations.
What is a crisis?
A mental health crisis is when someone no longer feels able to cope or be in control of their situation. They may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, be unable to cope with day-to-day life or work, think about suicide, self-harm or harm to others or be disoriented or out of touch with reality.
Why does a mental health crisis occur?
A crisis occurs when someone has a reaction to an event or experience in their life which they find hard to cope with. These reactions are very personal. You might know people who have experienced the same event without any impact. That doesn’t make your feelings wrong, or theirs right. All that matters is that there is support available if it would benefit you. People may experience crisis because of a range of events. These can include, but are not limited to:
- Relationship breakdown or difficulties
- Loss (of a loved one, job, home)
- Physical health issues
- Caring for another
- Violence and trauma
- Pressures from work or study
- An accident
- A natural disaster
- The onset of mental health issues
Are there places someone in crisis can visit?
Turning Point community-based crisis support is available at the following locations;
- Recovery Lounge Manchester
The Recovery Lounge is a safe space in Manchester city centre for those experiencing a mental health crisis. It is staffed by a mixture of recovery workers and peer support workers who can provide individually tailored emotional support, strengths-based problem solving and signposting for local services. The lounge is open 7 days a week, from 4pm - 11pm.
If you would like to visit the page for our Recovery Lounge Manchester service: Click here
- Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland Crisis Support
With a 24-hour helpline and a range of outreach branches, Evergreen House supports individuals in distress with coping strategies. We run a range of crisis café’s, face-to-face appointments, and peer support sessions, which are available across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland.
Are there short-term residential units?
For over-18s, there are short-term residential units in Nottingham, Hastings, Leicester, and Manchester. These community-based mental health crisis units provide a non-medicalised alternative to acute hospital admission for people experiencing a mental health crisis. During a stay at these units, guests receive tailored support, both emotional and practical, as well as signposting to longer-term services. Some units also offer support with substance use recovery.
Addressing a mental health crisis
A crisis can come at the most unexpected of times. But a mental health crisis is no different to a physical health emergency. Anyone suffering should expect to be handled with similar urgency, with support available 24 hours a day. You should expect that, when you ask for help, you are taken seriously. And that there is high quality treatment and care available, where you are treated with dignity and respect, as well as attention paid to the future in terms of recovery and staying well.
Who do I contact in a life-threatening emergency?
If someone you know tells you that they are feeling suicidal, or if you suspect that they are taking their own life then it is vital that they are encouraged to seek help. You or they should contact a GP or NHS 111. You can also contact the Samaritans straight away by calling 116 123 (UK) for free at any time.