Views and experiences of Mental Health Crisis Support

Between November 2019 and February 2020, Healthwatch Blackburn and Darwen undertook a survey and face to face interviews with service users who had used the mental health services and with inpatients at Pendleview Mental Health inpatient facility in Blackburn and Darwen.

They found that most people were aware of how to access support in a crisis however, a significant minority said that their family and friends were not aware of what to do and either made calls to their GP practice, went to the accident and emergency or even called the police. Most people said that they got in touch the crisis team as their first point of call. While most people felt that they were treated with dignity, care and empathy when accessing crisis support, almost similar numbers felt that they were not. Most people who had contacted the accident and emergency in a crisis had received decision on their care within 4 hours.

Residents of Pendleview Mental Health facility in Blackburn felt that they were involved in their care as an inpatient and supported post-discharge. The report contains a few anonymised case studies which showcase the views and experiences of people who have received mental health crisis support. The report also contains recommendations for service providers and their responses.