Our Trust has teamed up with a mental health charity to pilot England’s first Distress Brief Intervention service.
TEWV will work with Mental Health Concern to provide mental health support to people experiencing distress in Derwentside – but who do not need further emergency assistance.
Rachel Smith, a consultant applied psychologist with TEWV, said: “We are confident this will make a real difference.
“This exciting development is part of our work to make mental health support available to more people in their communities, when they need it.”
The Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) approach works on two levels, with Level 1 involving training front-line staff to provide a compassionate first response to people in distress.
Level 2, which will be led by MHC charity, includes a raft of measures such as:
- Specially trained staff contacting the person within 24 hours of the referral.
- Providing compassionate, community-based problem-solving support, wellness and distress management planning and supported connections.
- Signposting for up to 14 days – helping to reduce people’s immediate distress and supporting them to better manage their mental health over time.
The introduction of DBI to Derwentside follows a successful roll out in Scotland, where 90% of people referred agreed it had given them the tools and skills to manage their distress.
One in nine of the people who used the service also revealed that they may have attempted suicide, or continued with their suicidal thoughts, if not offered DBI help.
Two roles will be created to deliver the service in Derwentside and provide the support needed for the pioneering project.
Rachel added: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Mental Health Concern to pilot the first DBI service outside of Scotland.”
The MHC charity will provide DBI alongside its Together in a Crisis service, which offers support to those in mental health crisis across the North East, including TEWV areas.
Adam Crampsie, chief executive officer for MHC said: “I am delighted to see the invaluable DBI service being rolled out in England, and I am incredibly proud that Mental Health Concern will be advancing its working partnership with TEVW and our NHS and VSCE colleagues on this pilot scheme.
“We’ve seen the impact that the service has had in Scotland in helping people in distress to cope and manage their issues better. We believe that the DBI Service will be as effective in the North East and provide prompt and specialist support for those who need it.”
