How community mental health support is tackling the mental health crisis in the North East. An interview with Adam Crampsie, Chief Executive at Everyturn Mental Health.
The latest data on suicide rates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is showing an alarming trend – with registered deaths from suicide in England and Wales reaching its highest level since 1999.
Though the North East of England no longer has the highest suicide rate in the country, in 2023 it still saw a 15% increase in people choosing to end their lives.
To respond to this ongoing crisis, Everyturn Mental Health, a non-profit organisation based in Newcastle upon Tyne, has increased and varied its mental health crisis services through innovation and partnerships to ensure no one struggles alone.
We spoke to Everyturn’s Chief Executive, Adam Crampsie, to explore how Everyturn is developing these services and the role that community organisations have to play in the long-term ambition of improving the mental health of our region.
Tell us a bit about Everyturn and its mission.
We’re proud to be a close partner of the NHS, working hand in hand with our health and social care colleagues to support people and communities with their mental health.
Our services are designed around the needs of the people we support, we’re proud to offer high-quality, integrated mental health and wellbeing care, including a range of crisis support that puts people and communities at the heart of their care.
Following the most recent ONS suicide rate data, how is Everyturn responding from the North East?
Those statistics were heartbreaking. Demand for crisis mental health support is only increasing; we’ve seen a 30% rise in referrals to our services since pre-pandemic, and we know that people’s life circumstances play a big role in their crisis. This year alone, we’ve already supported over 4,000 people in crisis, 50% of whom said financial pressures were the cause of their distress.
At Everyturn, we’re taking a transformative approach to suicide prevention, by developing comprehensive support that tackles the practical issues that are pushing people into crisis.
You recently opened a space in Ashington, tell us more about the Safe Havens and how they work.
The Safe Haven in Ashington is the first of its kind in the North East, and it’s our way of putting mental health support on the high street. Many members of our Safe Haven team have their own lived experience of mental ill-health, so they know what it feels like; they offer immediate support to people who need help with anything from finances, and housing, to relationship issues.
The Safe Haven is open 2 pm-10 pm, 365 days a year, and people can just drop in – no appointment is needed, though we’re delighted that many GPs have been referring their patients to us.
Since its opening, hundreds of people have been supported by our Safe Haven, and its impact has allowed us to work on a second site in Newcastle city centre to open later this year, with a third planned for 2025.
How important is working with other organisations to create a better patient experience for the population?
We saw in the Darzi Report on the state of the NHS that working together is essential to meet the challenges faced by our health and social care system. We collaborate with many partners and organisations in our services across the country, working flexibly and creatively to take pressure off overstretched services like NHS crisis teams, A&E, and local police forces.
Ultimately, we want to make it easier for people to access mental health support in their local communities and give them the power to shape their services based on their needs.
To learn more about Everyturn Mental Health, and the services provided in the North East and across England, visit the website: www.everyturn.org