In a significant move to improve mental health care access, NHS 111 will now provide mental health support to people of all ages experiencing a crisis, including children. This new service, launched on Tuesday, allows individuals in England to call 111 and select the mental health option to speak with a trained professional expansion of NHS 111 services aims to address the growing mental health crisis in the UK, providing streamlined access to mental health support, according to Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock. As part of the government’s broader initiative to “fix the broken health system,” the new integrated service will give mental health “the same attention and focus as physical health,” Kinnock emphasized.

Previously, separate phone lines operated by local health systems handled approximately 200,000 calls per month. The new integrated service is designed to improve access to mental health support by offering a single point of contact for individuals in crisis or those concerned about the well-being of a loved one.

NHS England’s Director for Mental Health, Claire Murdoch, highlighted the significance of this development. We know that record numbers of people are suffering with their mental health, and we want to ensure that when people are in crisis, they have easy, straightforward access to the support they need,” she said.

The 111 mental health option will offer a variety of forms of assistance, including organizing face-to-face community support or directing callers to other appropriate services. Murdoch added that this initiative makes England “one of the first countries in the world to offer a free universal package of support to people through one easy-to-access phone line.

While the expansion has been welcomed by health leaders, concerns remain about unmet mental healthcare needs. Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness, praised the move but also stressed the urgency of making mental health care as accessible as possible. “A mental health crisis is traumatic and disorientating, and getting help quickly is vital. The last thing people need when they or a loved one is in crisis is uncertainty about where to turn,” Winstanley said.

This expansion marks a crucial step in addressing mental health issues across the UK, and health leaders hope it will provide much-needed relief to those in crisis.