Mental health services open 24/7 during Christmas and New Year

Dorset’s Access Mental Health services will be open as usual during Christmas and New Year to support those struggling to cope, heading towards a breakdown or even feeling suicidal.

Run by Dorset HealthCare, the service offers round-the-clock help and advice to those in need both over the phone and face-to-face, including evenings during the festive and New Year period.

Services include:

• Connection – a 24/7 telephone helpline (0300 1235440), which can provide direct help or signpost you to a range of other services
• The Retreat – a drop-in support service in Bournemouth and Dorchester, open 4.30pm-midnight every day. Run in partnership with the Dorset Mental Health Forum, it provides a safe space where you can talk through your problems with mental health workers or peer specialists
• Community Front Rooms – drop-in support services in Bridport, Shaftsbury and Wareham, open 3.15-10.45pm, Thursday-Sunday. They are run by local charities - The Burrough Harmony Centre (Bridport), Hope (Shaftesbury) and Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (Wareham) - and are all fully staffed by mental health professionals and peer support workers.

The Retreat and Community Front Rooms are for people aged 18 and over, and you don’t need an appointment – just drop in when you feel you need support.

And people of any age can call Connection, at any time. If you require urgent clinical help, staff can arrange an assessment within four hours.

Steve Jones, Dorset HealthCare’s Mental Health Community Services Manager, said:“This time of year can be overwhelming - many feel under pressure and unable to cope.

“The Access Mental Health services will continue to run as usual so people can get the support they need, at the exact time they need it. They can talk to mental health staff and peer specialists, people with their own experience of such issues, in a safe, non-judgemental space and find the solutions which can help them.”

More information, including address details of the Retreats and Community Front Rooms, is available here.