Mental health charity sees workload grow- where you can find help

Not many people know about the Shropshire Sanctuary, but the charity today spoke of increasing demand for its services.

Hidden away beside a vets practice and standing in the shadow of Shrewsbury Abbey, the Shropshire Sanctuary offers an out of hours service to those experiencing a mental health crisis.

Run by Shropshire Mind, Shropshire Sanctuary relieves the pressures placed upon the emergency services when called to support anyone suffering a mental health crisis. It has the support of Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The group has a team of dedicated staff, offering one-to-one help and support outside of normal working hours.

It compliments the work of NHS mental health services. People 18 or over can access the help and support on offer, but they must be referred to the service by the police, ambulance service, crisis team or A&E.

Shropshire Sanctuary has been running its bespoke service for just over a year. In that time, it has helped and supported hundreds of people.

Latest figures reveal that, during May, Shropshire Sanctuary helped 60 visitors in crisis. A further 12 who needed help could not access support due to demand being high.

Heather Ireland, manager said that the service, which runs from 5pm-9am Monday to Thursday and 5pm-11am Saturday and Sunday, opened in June 2017, has seen a growing number of people each month, seeking support at their time of crisis.

"Any person who is within Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin at their time of crisis can access the support on offer. We offer support, care and we listen, at times a person needs someone to listen, validating their thoughts, we can also signpost for further support if necessary."

Vulnerable

The service works closely with West Mercia Police, which has identified mental illness as one of the biggest challenges it faces on a day-to-day basis.

Inspector Ed Hancox said: "Not that long ago, we were taking people to the police cells. Taking someone who is already vulnerable and already in crisis was far from ideal. The alternative would be to take the person to hospital, but that was also not suitable, as they would have to wait to see a doctor, sometimes for hours, when all they needed was to be taken to a safe place”.

Ms Ireland added “We are non-clinical, we welcome people in in a totally non-judgemental and person- centred manner. May and June have been extremely busy. There is no pattern or guide to when a person may be in crisis, the service has to be available for immediate access at the point of crisis.

Need help?

Help and advice for those having a mental health crisis is available from a number of agencies in Shropshire.

• Shropshire Mind - 01743 368647 or shropshiremind.org

• Samaritans - 116 123 or samaritans.org

• Access Service for Adult Mental Health - 03001 240365

"There is still a stigma surrounding mental health, it is lifting slowly but still exists. Some people are afraid to disclose to those closest to them that they are suffering poor mental health. We are able to help them and inform them of other services available to them, for example Shropshire Mind is open seven days a week during the day with Sanctuary providing the overnight service”.

Shropshire Sanctuary is a unique service that has been designed within Shropshire by a host of stakeholders, including Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

The service is also guided from a person who is an expert by experience, who said: “Shropshire Sanctuary has totally changed the care I receive. Instead of the bright lights and noise of A&E, the staff there make me a cup of tea and listened to my distress. They have stopped me from taking my own life twice over the past 12 months. It is a safe place for me to be when I am unwell”.