The campaign story

Excellent crisis care exists. It can save lives. And that’s why we need it available for everyone.

We want people who are in crisis to be treated with humanity and compassion, get help when they need it, and have a choice and control over the kind of treatment and support they receive.

Listening to experience

In November 2011, after a year long independent inquiry, we published our crisis care report Listening to experience. It found that excellent crisis care does exist but for many the care provided is too little, too late or there's nothing at all.

Going to Parliament

In March 2012, we had our day in Parliament. A group of crisis care champions, who have all experienced crisis care services, met with MPs to explain what happened to them and give their views on what needs to change.

Freedom of Information Request

During the summer of 2012, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), we asked mental health trusts in England and health boards in Wales to tell us about the services they provide for people when they’ve hit rock bottom and are in crisis.

Demanding excellent crisis care

On 28 November 2012, we published the findings from our FOI data request.

A mental health crisis is frightening and can be life-threatening. Yet the quality of help you’ll get will depend on where you live. We found:

• You might not be able to get help immediately. Only one-third of people who used NHS crisis care services were assessed within four hours.
• If you do manage to get help, there may not be enough staff to care for you or keep you safe. 4 in 10 mental health trusts have staffing levels well below established benchmarks.
• And you may not be offered any choice in the treatment you get. Only 23 per cent of people in crisis were given a choice of treatment.