Alternative ways for people to access urgent mental health support

An informational graphic about urgent mental health support services. At the top, a blue sign reads 'Support for your mental health and wellbeing.' Below it, a traffic light with red, yellow, and green lights is shown. Next to the red light is a red box labelled 'Need urgent help now?' with instructions to call 111 for mental health options or 999 in emergencies. Next to the yellow light is a yellow box labelled 'General support' with contact information for Here4You Advice Line (0800 234 6342), Lincolnshire Talking Therapies (www.lincolnshiretalkingtherapies.nhs.uk), and Night Light Cafes (0300 011 1200). Next to the green light is a green box labelled 'Looking after yourself' with links to HAY Lincolnshire website (haylincolnshire.co.uk), Every Mind Matters website (nhs.uk/every-mind-matters), and Lincolnshire Recovery College (lpft.nhs.uk/recovery-college).

Following the launch of the NHS 111 urgent mental health line in April last year, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT) has been reviewing how people access and use the different parts of its urgent mental health support services and decided to make some changes.

Calls to the county’s adult Mental Health Matters (MHM) helpline have slowly decreased since the introduction of NHS 111 and, with the launch and expansion of the How Are You (H.A.Y.). People now have lots of alternative options for seeking support, either in a crisis, or for general advice.

For that reason, LPFT, in conjunction with the NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, has taken the decision to move to just one adult mental health helpline at the end of May.

Changes to urgent mental health services from 1 June

From 1 June, the Mental Health Matters helpline on 0800 001 4331 will no longer be available. Those in need of urgent mental health support should call NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health.

Children, young people and their families seeking support should call the Lincolnshire Here4You advice line on 0800 234 6342. This is open 24/7.

Professionals from healthcare, social care and the voluntary and third sector can continue to access advice from the Trust’s Lincolnshire Mental Health Adviser helpline on 0303 123 4000.

Eve Baird, Chief Operating Officer at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are continually reviewing the services we provide to the public across Lincolnshire to make sure they are as effective and efficient as possible. Moving to one adult mental health helpline means that those needing support are directed to trained mental health professionals straight away, streamlining and simplifying the overall process.

“For those not in immediate mental health crisis, there are now a number of places people can go to for support. Lincolnshire website and also the network of local community hubs and night light cafes. Full details of these are available on H.A.Y. Lincolnshire.”

Anyone with feedback or comments about this change can contact the LPFT Participation Team on lpft.involvement@nhs.net.

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