Why we need excellent crisis care
In a mental health crisis, we may be at immediate risk of self-harm or suicide. Or experience extreme anxiety, have a panic attack or a psychotic episode.
When someone's experiencing a mental health crisis, they need help. Urgently.
That's not acceptable. An emergency is an emergency.
Excellent crisis care exists. It can save lives. And that's why we need it available for everyone.
Restraint in mental health services
We all want to see a reduction in the use of restraint in mental health settings - an experience that can be scary, humiliating and cause unnecessary distress.
There's some great work going on to create environments where restraint isn't needed. But we need to see this everywhere.
We want to empower people who've experienced mental health problems to be part of initiatives to reduce restraint and spread good practice.
The Crisis Care Concordat
The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat is a national agreement between local services and agencies involved in caring for people in mental health crisis.
It sets out how organisations will work together to make sure people get the help they need when they need it.
At Mind, we welcome the Concordat as a significant step forward.
In February 2014, 22 national bodies involved in health, policing, social care, housing, local government and the third sector signed the Crisis Care Concordat. Now, we're working to make the Concordat a reality on the ground.
We're speaking with local service providers and agencies about signing the Concordat. And, we're working with colleagues to improve crisis care provision.
We're also speaking to our supporters, members and campaigners to mobilise them locally. We're demanding that local agencies take action and sign up for the Concordat.
The Crisis Care Concordat in Wales
The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat in Wales is an agreement between the Welsh Government and partners to improve how people in a mental health crisis are helped.
It aims to prevent people from being held inappropriately in police custody, or being drawn into the criminal justice system.
It was signed in December 2015 by the Welsh government, police, NHS, councils and other agencies. At Mind Cymru, we're supporting the work of the Concordat.
Crisis care reports
Planning for recovery
This guide helps you take part in your own discharge and care planning. It outlines what to expect from the process and has prompts to help you think about what you need:
Leaving hospital
Read the findings from a survey of more than 1,000 people about their experiences of leaving hospital after a mental health crisis. The briefing explains what NICE says should happen, and some of the good practice around England.
Restraint in mental health services
Written with the National Survivor User Network (NSUN), these guides summarise how organisations should be working to reduce restraint. And how you can get involved in influencing care in your area.
- Restraint in mental health services: What the guidance says (2015)
- Restraint in mental health services: Influencing change in your area (2015)
Mental health crisis care: physical restraint in crisis
This report sets out our findings on the use and impact of physical restraint in mental health care settings in England.
It calls for an end to face-down restraint, and an introduction of national standards and accredited training.
- Mental health crisis care: physical restraint in crisis (2013)
- Physical restraint: Report for trusts (2013)
- Physical restraint: Report for staff (2013)
- Physical restraint: Report for MPs (2013)
Commissioning excellence
Based on our crisis care inquiry and investigations into services, this briefing makes recommendations about meeting the needs of people from Black and minority ethnic groups.
This briefing makes recommendations to clinical commissioning groups about getting the right level and mix of crisis care to meet the needs of their communities.
Listening to experience
This is a report from a year-long independent inquiry we carried out. It outlines what we learned from people, and includes our vision and recommendations for achieving excellent crisis care.
