Mental health crisis teams

Crisis teams can support you if you have a mental health crisis. They offer support outside of hospital, usually at your home.

They're run by the NHS. Sometimes they're called crisis resolution and home treatment (CRHT) teams. Mind can't refer you to a crisis team, but we've information to help you find one if you need it. 

How can I access a mental health crisis team?

There are different ways you can access your local crisis team. This depends on your situation and how your local team works.

Some options are:

• Contacting NHS 111. You can call 111 for the 24/7 mental health support line (England and Wales). Or contact NHS 111 online (England). They may help you to access your local crisis team.
• Being referred through your GP.
• Being referred after visiting Accident & Emergency (A&E).
• Contacting them yourself, if you have their contact details.
• Searching for local crisis teams on the Hub of Hope website. You may need a referral but it should tell you who to contact to ask for this.
• Through your care plan. If you're being supported by a community mental health team (CMHT), they should let you know who to contact in a crisis.

How can a crisis team help me?

Crisis teams can help if you need urgent mental health support. They give crisis support outside of hospital.

A mental health crisis is when you need urgent help or treatment. For example, this may be because of psychosis, self-harm or a suicide attempt.

The team usually includes different mental health professionals. Such as psychiatrists, mental health nurses, social workers and support workers.

Crisis teams can:

• Visit you in your home or elsewhere in the community, for example at a crisis house, sanctuary or day service
• Assess your needs and offer support to help you stay at home
• Suggest self-help strategies
• Help you take medication
• Give practical help, for example with money, housing or childcare arrangements
• Help plan your care if you've had a crisis, to prevent this happening again in future
• Check your physical health
• Connect you with other services that may be able to help

Crisis teams usually support you outside of hospital. But they might visit you in hospital. This is to help you prepare for going home. And to tell you how they’ll support you once you leave hospital.

The amount of support crisis teams give can vary. Like:

• How often they can visit you
• How long they can support you for
• Whether you can contact them 24 hours a day 

Staff members often work in shifts. So you might not see the same people each time.

Support from a crisis team could help you manage a crisis at home. Some people prefer this. But this isn't right for everyone. You might feel you'd rather be treated in hospital. For example, if your home environment has added to you feeling in crisis.

I spoke to a mental health nurse about my experiences and history. We made a plan: I would see a clinician once a day at the team base for a check-in and have regular contact with the team’s clinical psychologist

What questions could I ask a crisis team?

If you're put in contact with a crisis team, it might help to ask them about their service while you're feeling well. These questions may help:

• What support can they give during a crisis? For example, information or advice, or support if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts.
• How do they give this support? For example, if they will call you or if you should call them, how often you can speak to someone and at what times of day.

I was able to call the team any time I felt in need and there was an option to see a nurse twice a day if I worsened or wanted to.

What if the crisis team doesn't help?

If you're not happy with how a mental health crisis team treats you, you can complain.

We have information on how to complain about health or social care.

Sometimes a crisis team may not be the right choice for you. Our page on how to get help in a mental health crisis has information about other options you could try.

NHS 111 - urgent mental health helpline

You can contact NHS 111 any time to access support for your health.

Visit the NHS 111 England and NHS 111 Wales websites to learn more, including other ways to get support.