SAfe hAven for mentAl heAlth

New sanctuary for people suffering a crisis

A new site for people experiencing a mental health crisis will open shortly aspart of a bid to ease pressure on A&E. Dubbed a safe haven, The Sanctuary will open on Monday, September 19 to allow people to get practical and emotional support.

Run by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT) and mentalhealth charity Mindin Cambridgeshire, it is part of a new project to reduce admission rates to A&E.

A sanctuary in Cambridge wasopenedupinMayandhas so far given support to 200 people.

Elaine Young, associate director for service integration for CPFT, said: “The opening of The Sanctuary is a really important milestone in improving care for those who are suffering a mental health issues.

“TheSanctuaryofferspeople the chance to take a ‘time out’ in a non-medical environment rather than going to an accident and emergency unit which is often not the most suitable place for people to be, but historically there has not been a suitable alternative.”

Open from 6pm until 1am, The Sanctuary in Peterborough will be operated by staff fromMindinCambridgeshire.

The exact location is not being identified as referrals to The Sanctuary can only be made by a GP, another health professional, or the police.

Staff will offer people a listening ear and can help them link up with clinicians from different services.

People who use The Sanctuary cannot stay overnight.

Lynn Mars, director of services for Mind in Cambri dgeshire, s a i d: “The opening of the sanctuaries – combined with the other measures that have been put in place – will help to change the face of crisis care across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, ensuring that individuals receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.”

Further measures to be putinplace include aFirst Response Service, run by CPFT, which will provide face-toface assessments and will respondtourgentreferralsfrom emergency services.

And people will be able to refer themselves to urgent mental health care services in Peterborough by telephone, rather than having to be referred via their GP or other emergency services.

Thiswilloperate24hoursa day, seven days a week.