Crisis houses, sanctuaries and day services

There may be some services in your community that can help you in a mental health crisis. These services support people who don't need to be admitted to hospital. Some of these services you can walk into. Some need a referral.

They include crisis houses, crisis cafés, sanctuaries, safe havens and day services.

I started to connect with the other people there, exchanging smiles and playing card games. I left the crisis house after 5 nights with newly found determination to get better.

What are crisis cafés, sanctuaries and safe havens?

Crisis cafés, sanctuaries and safe havens support people that need somewhere safe and calm to go for a short time. They can help if you’re struggling to cope and don’t feel you can be alone.

They aim to be more relaxed than somewhere like accident and emergency (A&E). They might have sofas or offer you a cup of tea.

Some are run by the NHS. But most are run by independent organisations like charities. The staff are trained to give mental health support. But they aren’t usually nurses or doctors.

Many of them are open in the evenings, but they don’t usually offer accommodation.

Some have a helpline or virtual drop-ins online if you aren’t able to go in person.

Different types of support will be offered in different places. But some things you might be able to access include:

• Peer support
• Someone who can discuss coping techniques with you
• A quiet place to sit and calm down
• Activities like board games or crafts
• Referral and signposting to other services

How can I access a crisis café, sanctuary or safe haven?

Many crisis cafés, sanctuaries and safe havens are walk-in services. This means you can just show up. You normally don’t need a referral. But some might need you to book an appointment or call ahead.

Local Minds or the Hub of Hope may have information on crisis cafés, sanctuaries and safe havens in your area. This includes how to access them. 

Crisis cafés, sanctuaries and safe havens might not be the right place for you if:

• Your life is at risk. For example, if you have immediate plans to take your life. Or have seriously harmed yourself
• If you think you might harm someone else
• If you’ve taken drugs or drunk a lot of alcohol

See our page how to get help in a mental health crisis for information on what to if your life is at risk. Or if you think you might harm someone.

You can find drug and alcohol support near you on the Talk to Frank website. 

What’s a crisis house?

A crisis house is somewhere you can stay to get support when you have a mental health crisis. They’re an alternative to going to hospital. Some crisis houses also support people who’ve just been in hospital.

You can stay overnight in a crisis house, but only for a short time. How long you can stay will vary between crisis houses. But it’s usually between 3 and 7 days.

Crisis houses normally have a small number of beds and are set up like a home. Some are run by the NHS, and some are run by charities or local councils.

Services in crisis houses vary, but they might offer things like:

• Talking therapy
• Crisis planning
• Peer support
• Referrals to other support services

How can I access a crisis house?

Usually a mental health professional will need to refer to you to a crisis house. For example, a crisis team or a GP. It will depend on the area you live in. Very few crisis houses allow you to refer yourself.

The person referring you will normally need to do an assessment. This is to make sure a crisis house is the right place for you. They might consider things like:

• How long you might need support
• How your mental health is affecting you
• Whether you need support away from home 

Not all crisis houses offer support to everyone. Some crisis houses are set up to help specific groups of people, such as women. And some might not be able to support you if you have:

• No fixed address
• A drug or alcohol misuse problem
• Significant physical health problems

But some can offer support in these cases. It will depend on the crisis house.

You can speak to your mental health team about crisis houses in your area. And whether they’re right for you.

The charity Rethink Mental Illness runs crisis houses in some areas of England. You can view their crisis support page to find out more. 

What are day services?

Day services give mental health treatment to people in crisis. They usually offer the same kind of treatment you would get in hospital. This can include therapy or crisis planning. But you don’t need to stay in hospital to get the treatment.

They’re also called ‘acute day services’.  

You might be referred to a day service if you:

• Are being looked after by a crisis team
• Have just been in hospital and need more support before going home 

How can I access a day service?

A medical professional normally needs to refer you to a day service. You might be referred by a crisis team. Or a team supporting you in hospital.

Some day services are based in hospitals. But some are based in other parts of the community.

You can talk to your mental health team if you think a day service might help you. They can discuss the options with you.