For the February all-ages meeting, we were joined by Nick Bell, Service Manager at The Edinburgh Crisis Centre, which provides short-term emotional and practical support to people experiencing a mental health crisis.
You can access emotional help to deal with difficult feelings or thoughts you may be experiencing during a time of crisis. This could include anxiety, depression, panic attacks, hearing voices and thoughts about suicide or self-harm.
The staff can also support you in finding ways to obtain help with the causes of the crisis you are facing. This may include obtaining information and expert advice regarding welfare benefits and debt, housing information services, including assistance for homelessness, as well as information and guidance on substance misuse and support for relationship difficulties.
The service is for people aged 16 and over who live in Edinburgh and use/have used mental health services or identify themselves as having a mental health issue. This includes people who have seen their GP or used voluntary services. The Centre is open 24/7, 365 days a year, and is fully accessible.
Carers of people who have mental health issues can also access support through the Crisis Centre even if they don't live in Edinburgh themselves as long as the person they care for is a resident.
The service is confidential, and all information collected about callers is securely stored at the Crisis Centre. Your number will not be retained without your consent; however, if they believe that you or a third party is in immediate danger, your number will be shared with the appropriate service.
The Centre offers an inclusive service to all and has developed extensive resources with information for people who may have specific needs relating to culture, disability, gender, race and sexuality.
The Centre is not a drop-in service, so individuals cannot simply arrive at the door; however, staff will always provide you with an arranged time to visit when they are able to assist you. You may be referred to the Centre through the Crisis Navigator Service by the Mental Health Assessment Service (MHAS) or the Intensive Home Treatment Team (IHTT). Call MHAS 24/7 on 0131-537-6000.
The Centre has four bedrooms, and the maximum amount of time people can stay at the moment is 24 hours while the Centre is being assessed by the Care Inspectorate. There is a communal living room and a kitchen with a microwave.
The Centre aims to give people an alternative to hospital, and they can relax in the garden or take part in art, yoga, writing and nutrition groups run by volunteers. The Centre also has a lovely therapy dog, Brodie.
Contacting the Crisis Centre:
Free phone 0808 801 0414
Text: 0797 442 9075
Follow The Edinburgh Crisis Centre on Facebook
Watch the guided tour here or attend one of their Open Days, which occur every second Thursday of each month.
Please be aware that if you contact the Centre for support by text/email, your mobile telephone number/email address will be visible to the staff. Please remember to leave your telephone number as clearly as possible otherwise, staff might not be able to return your call.
Edinburgh Crisis Centre is governed by a formal partnership between Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership and Penumbra.
Many thanks to Nick for answering so many questions from us and for taking his evening out to chat with our group.