Publish date: 13 August 2024
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire’s new Men’s Crisis House has opened in Avonmouth, providing support to men experiencing emotional distress.
David Jarrett, Chief Delivery Officer at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, said:
“We recognise that men often face unique barriers when it comes to seeking help for mental health issues. This Men's Crisis House is a crucial step in breaking down these barriers and providing a supportive space where men can feel safe and understood.”
The Bristol Men’s Crisis House opened in June 2024 and provides a safe space for people needing targeted mental health support to aid their recovery.
The service provides care for men who need a short period of time away from home to help them cope with their emotional distress and consider what they might need longer term.
People can access a range of therapeutic activities, including cooking, arts and crafts and gardening, as well as dedicated support and signposting to help with issues such as debt, benefits and housing. Everyone using the service will also be able to access NHS crisis support.
The house is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days per week and offers 10 en-suite bedrooms, communal spaces and a courtyard garden.
The charity Rethink Mental Illness has been commissioned by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB to run the service in the area in close partnership with local NHS mental health services.
Rethink Mental Illness provide over 90 mental health services across the country, including other crisis houses, advice and support lines, nursing and residential care and more.
Deborah Stephenson, Director of Accommodation Services at Rethink Mental Illness, said:
“Emotional distress can be a very isolating experience, and men in particular may feel they have nowhere to turn and no-one they can open up to. That’s why we’re so pleased to be working in partnership to meet this need, and our crisis house in Avonmouth is up and running to provide crucial support to men across the area. We hope this will give many men in crisis a safe space where they can go to have some respite, receive tailored support and consider their next steps.”
Sarah Branton, Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust said:
“The new Crisis House is an important part of our overall crisis service and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Rethink to ensure men experiencing emotional distress are getting support as quickly as possible. It’s really evident the high level of support people receive and the warm welcome they get when they arrive.”
John Collett, who has lived experience of using men’s crisis services, was involved in the development of the Bristol Men’s Crisis House. He said:
“I’m really pleased to have used my experience alongside experts in mental health to help shape this service for local people. It’s crucial that anyone experiencing mental health crisis gets expert support in a dedicated and safe environment at a time when they are most in need.”
