New 111 helpline for people struggling with mental health disorders to be launched - Echo

AN EMERGENCY helpline for people struggling with mental health difficulties is due to be set up in south Essex.

The lifeline which could save lives moves the region closure to treating mental and physical ailments with parity.

The 111 helpline will be designed to give patients quicker access to care and will be available to residents across Southend, Thurrock, Basildon, Brentwood and Castle Point.

Mark Tebbs, director of commissioning at Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group, told the council's health scrutiny committee: “We’ve got a number of steps to go through.

"We are at the stage where we’ve got a business case finalised and we now need to secure the funding.

“Once that is done there will be a six to nine-month mobilisation plan so this will mean recruiting staff - workforce is a major issue – but our ambition if all things going well, is the service will be up and running by next winter.

"Part of the mobilisation plan will be communication and engagement with the public in making sure the number is well known and publicised."

Ian Wake, director of Public Health in Thurrock, added: “We have removed the need to go to a GP to get a service.

"You will directly get an assessment on the phone and within 24 hours, a dramatic improvement in terms of access to key critical community support for the most vulnerable in our society.”

When a member of the public phones the 111 line they will be given the option to be transferred to a 24-hour mental health team.

That team will then discuss the issues the caller is facing before deciding what kind of care they need.

This could mean transferring them to a critical care team who will provide a face-to-face response or referring them to community support services or alternative accommodation. It is being introduced as part of a wider transformation of mental health support.

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