Mental health crises: how to improve care

Community services for people in mental health crisis provide an alternative to emergency departments or inpatient psychiatric admission. They include helplines, GPs, ambulance services, crisis resolution and home treatment teams, and day treatment services. They are usually delivered by a variety of agencies, including the NHS, the voluntary sector and local government. But people can find services difficult to navigate, which can delay their access to the right care.

NIHR Evidence held a webinar in May 2024 on care for adults in mental health crisis. The webinar shared research findings on:
what works in community crisis care
how acute day units compare to crisis resolution teams
whether peer-supported self-management can reduce acute readmissions.
This Collection summarises the 3 research projects presented at the webinar. It includes video clips from the speakers and incorporates quotes from the day. The information will be useful for anyone involved in commissioning or delivering mental health crisis services