Crisis resolution and intensive home treatment service (CRHT)

Contact us

In a mental health emergency, you can contact your local crisis resolution and intensive home treatment team using our freephone number:

0800 0516 171

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What to do in a mental health emergency What mental health support is available to me?

What is the crisis resolution and home treatment team?

We provide specialist assessment for people aged 16yrs* and older who need urgent mental health care.

This assessment helps us to understand and agree:

what your current needs are
how we may be able to support you.

This includes your mental and physical health needs as well as any social care needs you may have.

We will also identify if there are any risks to yourself or others. This is to minimise any possible harm and support your wellbeing.

A range of professionals work in the team including nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, support workers, doctors and trainee staff.

*In some areas, where people have been supported by child and adolescent mental health crisis services, support will be given from the age of 18yrs.

Your assessment

We may ask you:

what is happening for you at the moment
what you are finding difficult
what you would like help with
what matters to you
what has or hasn’t helped in the past
about your physical health needs
what support you have in place
what care you are currently receiving for your mental health (for example, if you have support from mental health services).

The time it takes to complete an assessment depends on each individual circumstance. Sometimes we need longer to understand your mental health needs.

This means we may continue to assess you for up to three days following your initial assessment.

For many people, family members and carers play an important role in supporting their wellbeing and can be involved in our assessments if this is something you would like.

We can also provide information about family and carer support agencies.

What happens next?

We will work with you to agree a care plan that supports you through the crisis. We will listen to what is important to you.

Your care plan may include:

safeguarding
signposting information
a referral to another service or organisation (e.g. housing support)
or recommendations to your GP
a period of intensive home treatment (IHT)
an admission to hospital.

If appropriate, your family or carer may be offered an individual carers assessment of needs.

Intensive home treatment (IHT)

For many people, receiving treatment and support in the least restrictive environment can have the best outcome; that’s why we always aim to offer you care and treatment at home.

The aim of home based treatment is to:

reduce acute distress
minimise potential for immediate harm
improve functioning
provide alternative to hospital admission
problem solve acute social or interpersonal crisis.

If we agree that IHT would best meet your current needs, we will work with you to agree and arrange frequent support over a short period of time. We can see you at home, or a place of your choosing as often as necessary (based on your individual needs). We normally see people daily for three days.

IHT may include supportive visits where we will listen compassionately to you and try to understand what is happening for you. If appropriate you may be offered psychological therapy, occupational therapy, medication and advice.

Your care will be reviewed daily and we will work together to plan your discharge.

You may be referred to a team who can support your longer term needs. We will talk with you about this and agree the next steps together.

Recovery College Online

The Recovery College Online provides a range of online mental health educational courses and resources. The content of the site has been developed by people with experience of mental illness.

Helplines and other useful sources of information

The Samaritans

Confidential, non-judgemental emotional support 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair. No credit is required to call and numbers do not show on any bills.

Tel. 116 123
Text. 07725909090
E mail. jo@samaritans.org