Patients can now get walk-in support from the 24/7 mental health centre

The first walk-in unit offering support to people with mental illness has opened in East London.

Tower Hamlets is the first community to benefit from the newly-launched NHS model of round-the-clock mental health support. It is the first of six centres set to open around the UK, combining a variety of support options in one space, including crisis services, community mental health services, and short-stay beds.

People with serious mental illnesses will be able to walk in without an appointment if they need mental health support. People can also get advice on employment, housing, and volunteering.

The centres are to be staffed by a team of psychiatrists, mental health professionals, peer support workers, and voluntary sector staff. Local authority, faith, and community sector organisations will be present onsite, as well as people with lived experience offering support.

According to NHS England, the move is part of the government's 10-Year Health Plan, designed to "transform mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood care models".

In a press release announcing the new centre, NHS England noted that continuity of care (being supported by the same team, who you trust and know) is critical for both safety and recovery. For that reason, bringing various mental health teams together in one neighbourhood team is crucial.

The six unit locations are as follows:

  • Whitehaven (Cumbria) – Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
  • Acomb (York) – York Mental Health Partnership
  • Heeley (Sheffield) – Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
  • East of Birmingham – Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Tower Hamlets (London) – East London NHS Foundation Trust
  • Lewisham (London) – South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

"We know that timely access to mental health support close to home can be the difference between recovery and crisis for people living with severe mental illness," said Cassandra Geisel from Rethink Mental Illness, Lead of the Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance.

"What people tell us, and what evidence shows, is that the most effective support is wraparound: providing access not only to clinical care and treatment but also to support with housing, employment, and building social connections [...] This new one-stop shop mental health centre, bringing together clinical teams, voluntary sector partners, and peer support workers, represents the future of mental health care."