24/7 mental health support on NHS 111

Extended 111 service will help those in mental health crisis in Shropshire, Telford and WrekinFrom 1st December 2023, people living in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin will now be able to access urgent mental health support directly via NHS 111, 24/7.   On receipt of the call, specially trained staff will speak to callers, discuss their urgent needs, and assess what the best way to support them is depending on their symptoms.   We think this a really important step forward to improve care for those who are suffering mental health issues. Until now many people in mental health crisis didn’t know which number to call or who to turn to for help.   If people have physically harmed themselves, or if their life is at risk, then A&E is the right place to go. But more often people just want someone to talk to, and advice on what help is available and which services they can access.   Overall, we are aiming to give mental health crisis parity of esteem by making help more easily accessible and available as well as easing pressure on A&E departments.   We count on your support to promote NHS 111 ‘select mental health option’ to your local networks, including the vulnerable people you support on a daily basis. We would ask that from April 2024 the local urgent helpline is no longer promoted by our partner organisation but NHS111 Mental Health option is promoted instead. Issued by NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Communications Team. Email: stw.communications@nhs.net