Mental health crisis cafes

People across Cheshire East are set to benefit from two new mental health crisis cafes.

The cafes which are opening today (Monday 28 February) in Crewe and Macclesfield are the result of a partnership between Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Cheshire East Council, Independence Supported Living (ISL) and East Cheshire Housing Consortium (ECHC).

Sean Boyle, CWP speciality clinical director for crisis and urgent care, explains: “Crisis cafes form a vital part of improving peoples’ experience of urgent mental health care as non-clinical, warm and welcoming, safe spaces for people seeking support whilst in mental health distress. They are also a way for people to get help from trained staff and peers on coping with or preventing future mental health crisis’.”

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work collaboratively with partners to put these much-needed services in place for people in Cheshire East. We’ve been really encouraged with the feedback from people accessing crisis cafes in Chester and Birkenhead and hope the new Crewe and Macclesfield venues will help to make a real impact in addressing, supporting and preventing poor mental health.”

• The Weston Hub is located at The Weston Centre, Earlsway, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8RL will be open from 10am to 10pm, seven days per week and can be accessed by referral from health and social care professionals, as well as through other voluntary organisations.

• ‘Crewcial’ will be open will be open 1pm-10pm, seven days per week and people aged 18+ will be able to self-refer into the service by simply turning up on the day or by referral from a health or social care professional. The new café is located at 3 Partridge Close, Flat 2, Dunwoody Way, Crewe, CW1 3TQ.

Councillor Jill Rhodes, chair of the adults and health committee at Cheshire East Council, said: “Together with our partners, our drive is to ensure that people get the right help at the right time, expect recovery, and fully enjoy their rights, free from discrimination and stigma.

“Our aim, when developing both cafes was to work together with people who use mental health services, families and communities as well as the police, health and social care professionals.”

“I am delighted that they have now opened their doors and are providing a safe and supportive alternative to A&E or hospital admission for those suffering during a mental health crisis.”

The vision for both cafes has been co-produced with people who use mental health services, families, and communities including the police, social services, the fire service and health and social care professionals.

Sarah Bull, ISL director of operations and finance said: “ISL are incredibly excited to be part of delivering a much-needed service for Cheshire people. Working closely with health and social care partners in recent months to deliver community-based options for people suffering a mental health crisis makes the café even more central to our offer in Crewe. We can’t wait to get started.”

Brenda Wright, ECHC chief executive officer said: “ECHC are extremely proud to be included to provide a crisis café within Macclesfield. It is a very promising development for ECHC and will make further use of our fantastic facility at The Weston Centre. We are delighted that we will be able to make a difference to the lives of those who find themselves in crisis and support them in a pathway moving forward.”

The new cafes will complement the already-existing Freephone Urgent Mental Health helpline, provided by CWP. The crisis telephone line is open to Cheshire residents of all ages, 24/7 and can be accessed by calling 0800 145 6485.