North East charity Mental Health Concern and the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust are working together to pilot a "first of its kind" mental health service in our region.
The organisations will become the first in England to roll-out a "distress brief intervention" (DBI) service. This will see the charity provide support to contact someone in distress - who does not need emergency help - within 24 hours of a referral.
That support will involve specially-trained staff offer "compassionate, community-based" support, including through helping people manage their distress and signposting them to other services. The idea is that this helps someone to better manage their mental health over time.
Read more: Virtual appointments could be key to bringing down hospital waiting times says North East NHS boss
This kind of work has previously been rolled-out in Scotland, but the service for communities in the North East - starting in Derwentside in County Durham - will be the first in England. North of the border, research has shown 90% of those referred found that the DBI service had given them the tools needed to manage their own mental health - while one in nine said that without it, they may have attempted suicide or continued to have suicidal thoughts.
Adam Crampsie, chief exec at Mental Health Concern said: "I am delighted to see the invaluable DBI service being rolled out in England, and I am incredibly proud that Mental Health Concern will be advancing its working partnership with TEVW and our NHS and [voluntary and community sector] colleagues on this pilot scheme in Derwentside.
“We’ve seen the impact that the service has had in Scotland in helping people in distress to cope and manage their issues better. We believe that the DBI Service will be as effective in the North East and provide prompt and specialist support for those who need it.”
The other element of DBI sees frontline staff in the emergency services trained in responding compassionately to those suffering distress - and they will be encouraged to refer those patients to the intervention service managed by Mental Health Concern and TEWV. Mental Health Concern already runs its Together in a Crisis service supporting those experiencing acute mental ill health across the North East.
Rachel Smith, a consultant applied psychologist at TEWV, said: "We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Mental Health Concern to pilot the first DBI service outside of Scotland. This exciting new development is part of our work to make mental health support available to more people in their communities when they need it. We are confident it will make a real difference to the people of Derwentside.”
READ NEXT:
- 'Investment in coaches, facilities and players' will be key to help North East women's football grow after England's success
- Newcastle GP hits out at health service pay and warns brain drain could see 'two-tier NHS'
- Ambulance service bosses warn patients 'coming to harm' over increasing hospital delays
- Astonishing Lego model will help Freeman Hospital children's cancer patients ahead of radiotherapy treatment
- 'A banana a day could half cancer risk' - Newcastle-led study shows remarkable impact of starchy foods
