Urgent mental health support
If you need an emergency service, such as an ambulance, please dial 999.
Reaching out for support via telephone: If you are 18 and over and need urgent mental health support, dial 111. Select the mental health crisis option. You can contact them 24 hours a day.
Are you concerned for your mental health or the mental health of an another person? Please see additional information: Mental Health Services
In person
You can go in person to Basildon Hospital, which has a Mental Health Urgent Care Department. It offers an alternative to the Emergency Department for those:
- aged 18 and over
- with urgent mental health needs
- in crisis
It provides a calm and therapeutic environment as well as rapid access to a team of mental health specialists. You can contact them 24 hours a day.
Further information: Mental Health Urgent Care Department
You can also present to Southend Hospital Accident & Emergency Department 24 hours a day.
Under 18s
If you are under the age of 18 or are the family member of someone under the age of 18 who is in crisis, please call North East London NHS Foundation Trust’s Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SET CAMHS)
0800 953 0222 or email SET-CAMHS.referrals@nelft.nhs.uk
If you need urgent help or out-of-hours help for someone under the age of 18, call 0300 555 1201.
The AMHP Service is responsible for undertaking Mental Health Act assessments. The service responds to referrals during the business hours of Southend City Council (of Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm Friday, 9am to 4pm), the Emergency Duty Service accepts these referrals outside of these hours on behalf of the Council.
AMHPs are qualified professionals who have gained an additional qualification. It's this additional qualification that allows them to undertake the AMHP role.
Examples of qualified professionals that can gain the additional qualification include:
- Social Workers
- Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Psychologists
AMHPs can make an application to detain a person in hospital for a period of assessment or treatment. This is all valid under a section of the Mental Health Act.
Most of Southend's AMHPs are social workers, though some are nurses or occupational therapists.
Southend's AMHPs are employed by either:
- Southend-on-Sea City Council
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)
The minority, which are EPUT employed, act on behalf of the council when carrying out the role.
If you wish to contact the AMHP service during our business hours of Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm Friday, 9am to 4pm:
- call 01702 215627
- send an email
Outside the hours Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm Friday, 9am to 4pm and 24 hrs a day at weekends & bank holidays, contact our Emergency Duty Service: Out of hours telephone: 0345 606 1212
Email: eds@essex.gov.uk