Services:
The Crisis Centre is accessible 24 hours a day 365 days of the year and provides community based, emotional and practical support to people over eighteen who are using or have used mental health services in Edinburgh and their carers when they are facing a crisis. The Centre provides a free phone telephone help line as well as face-to-face support and contains a range of information. We also support computer access to a database of local statutory and community resources to inform the development of visitor’s crisis plans.
The Free-Phone Help Line (Access Line):
The Access line is staffed 24 hours a day by trained Crisis Centre staff who will provide emotional support to callers and work with them towards reducing feelings of distress.
Staff will support the caller to develop a personal crisis plan and importantly to identify strategies the caller already has to help them with the crisis. Staff will also support the caller to develop a short-term crisis plan identifying local community based informal and formal support. Where unmet needs are identified staff will signpost callers to relevant community and statutory services. Staff at the Crisis Centre will not recommend services we will provide information to assist the caller to make informed choices and callers will be encouraged to share their crisis plan with carers, friends and professionals working with them.
Collecting Information
This service is confidential and all information about callers will be kept securely at the Crisis Centre and can be used for data collection and staff training. We use a number of methods to collect information, call recording and creating a written record of the callers contact with us. Call recording software can be switched off and you can use the telephone help line service anonymously.
Sharing Information.
Crisis Centre policy is to prevent suicide and we will share relevant identifying information with statutory services if a callers life is at immediate risk or if a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.
Support at the Crisis Centre
Face to face support can be arranged at the Crisis Centre via the free phone helpline (Access Line). We do have facilities for visitors to stay overnight when this is agreed between the visitor and staff at the Centre.
Professionals can call the office Administrator to make enquiries about the service or if they require publicity material and information. Call 0131 561 0082 and you will be transferred to the relevant person who can help with your enquiry.