Silhouette of man sitting, with his head in his hands, in front of a blind. The suggestion is the man is struggling mentally

A Mental Health Urgent Care Department for mid and south Essex has opened at Basildon Hospital, offering an alternative to the Emergency Department for those in crisis with urgent mental health needs.

The department offers 24/7 urgent mental health support to adults aged 18 and over. It offers people an alternative, calm and therapeutic environment, with rapid access to a team of mental health specialists.

If you’re 18 and over and need urgent mental health support, dial 111 and select the option for mental health crisis.

Trained staff are on hand 24/7 to provide advice and support. You may be advised to attend the new Mental Health Urgent Care Department at Basildon Hospital, an alternative to A and E designed for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

You may be referred to the Mental Health Urgent Care Department through the crisis support team, or your duty worker, if you have already used mental health services.

Hospital emergency departments are not always the right environment for people experiencing mental health difficulties; the new department provides care, assessment and an alternative, calm and therapeutic space with access to mental health specialists. Its design meets high standards of comfort and safety. The service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A video walkthrough of the department can be seen here Mental Health Urgent Care Department virtual tour

For more information go to: Mental Health Urgent Care Department

Published: Wednesday, 19th July 2023