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NHS mental health teams - Community, crisis, and early intervention support

NHS mental health teams

Community, crisis, and early intervention support

Mental health teams are part of the NHS. They support people living in the community who have complex or serious mental health problems. This information is on specialist mental health teams and how they can help you. It is for people affected by mental illness in England who are 18 or over. It’s also for their carers, friends and relatives and anyone interested in this subject.

See our page on Accessible advice for information on alternative ways to access this content.

Frequently asked Qs

- NHS mental health teams are there to help you to improve your mental health.
- There are different mental health teams such as community mental health team, crisis team, and early intervention team.
- Different mental health professionals work in NHS mental health teams. Such as psychiatrists, psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, social workers, and occupational therapists.
- You might get help from the whole team, or from 1 or 2 professionals.
- You usually get referred to mental health teams through a health or social care professional.
- You should receive support and treatment for your mental health in line with the NHS community mental health framework for adults and older adults.
The mental health system within the NHS is split into 3 tiers: primary, secondary and tertiary care.

The NHS have rolled out a program called the integrated care system which will change the landscape healthcare system over time.

Primary care

This is the entry level of care for the NHS. You can get treatment and support from primary care services if you have mild or moderate mental health problems. Primary services include:
- GP practices,
- link workers or social prescribers,
- NHS talking therapy services, and
- Other locally commissioned services
A link worker or social prescribers offer non-medical support to help improve your wellbeing. They try to connect you to community-based support, like activity groups.

Secondary care

This is the next level of care in the NHS. It covers specialist mental health community and hospital care.

A mental health team (MHT) is part of community care. Community care means you get treatment in the community, not in hospital. You may be referred to an MHT if you need more support with your mental health. MHT’s are staffed with professionals such as psychiatrists and psychologists.

See the section below headed ‘What are the different mental health teams?’ for more information.

Hospital care includes inpatient treatment. You are an inpatient if you stay be choice, or if you are detained under the Mental Health Act.

Tertiary care

This means 3rd level care. It is highly specialist care within the NHS. It covers specialist community and hospital care.

Examples of community tertiary care are specialist, condition specific, national services, like those at the Maudsley hospital in London.

The Maudsley is a national service which means that you can access it even if you live outside of London. But you will need a referral.

Specialist hospital tertiary care includes secure units. Patients in secure units are usually detained under the Mental Health Act and present a level of risk greater than general mental health services could safely deal with

What is the NHS community mental health framework for adults and older adults?

You should receive support and treatment for your mental health in line with the NHS community mental health framework for adults and older adults.

The Framework aims to:
- put you at the centre of you care, with choice,
- have one care plan for you, shared by
- people who support you, and
- prevent problems, treat illness, and improve your quality of life.
For more information on the Framework see the section below headed, 'What support and treatment should I get from a mental health team?’

You can find more information on www.rethink.org about:
There are different types of NHS mental health teams (MHT) that support different mental health needs. But there is some overlap between the services.

Common MHTs are the following.
- Community mental health team
- Crisis team
- Early intervention team
- Assertive outreach team
- Forensic community mental health team
In some areas there are also some mental health condition specific teams. Like an eating disorder or personality disorders team.

What is a community mental health team?

A community mental health team (CMHT) can support you to recover from mental health issues. They can give you short or long-term care and treatment if you are in the community.

Health professionals from different backgrounds work in the CMHT. They work together to help you get better.

A team may have one main clinic or office. Or they may work in different places, like GP surgeries or health centres. You may be offered home visits. This will depend on your local NHS Trust. CMHTs are usually for people aged between 18 and 65.

There are different mental health teams for other age groups. They are:
- child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), for people under 18 years old, and
- older adult mental health teams, for people who are over 65. But sometimes CMHTs support you if you are over 65.
What is a crisis team?

A crisis team can support you if you are having a mental health crisis in the community. They offer short term support to help prevent hospital admission. They can arrange for you to go to hospital if you are very unwell.

Having a mental health crisis can mean different things. It can include:
- thinking about suicide or acting on suicidal thoughts,
- severely self-harming,
- experiencing psychosis, where you are out of touch with your normal reality, or
- doing something that could put you or other people at risk.
A crisis team can also support you when you are discharged from a short stay in hospital.

The team may:
- offer medication,
- arrange regular visits, and
- make sure you are in touch with other services to get long-term support, such as the CMHT or social services.
Crisis teams are sometimes called:
- home treatment teams,
- crisis resolution teams,
- intensive teams,
- crisis and assessment teams, and
- rapid response teams.
You can get crisis support by:
- calling NHS 111, or by following this link yo NHS 111.
- looking on your local NHS trust’s website for information, or
- contacting your GP.
See Get help now at www.rethink.org for more options for urgent mental health support.

You can find more information about:
Psychosis
Self-harm
Suicidal thoughts – How to cope

at www.rethink.org.

What is an early intervention team?

Early intervention in psychosis team (EIT) services can support you if you experience psychosis for the first time.

You might get help from an EIT service if you have psychosis and have used drugs.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that early intervention services should be open to people of all ages.

What is psychosis?

Psychosis is a medical term. If you experience psychosis, you will process the world around you differently to other people. This can include how you experience, believe or view things.

You might see or hear things, or believe things, that others do not. Some people describe it as a "break from reality."

It is common symptom for people who have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.

On our webpage can find more information about Psychosis

How long will it take to help from my local EIT?

You should start getting treatment for psychosis within 2 weeks after your referral. Treatment may include antipsychotic medication and talking therapy like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

If EIT cannot provide urgent support for you in a crisis, they should refer you to a crisis team. But you should still be supported by the EIT at the same time.

What is an assertive outreach team?

An assertive outreach team (AOT) can support you if you are 18 or over and you need intensive support because of complex mental health needs.

The team aim to give you support, so that you can get the treatment or care that you need from other services.

This support can help you to manage your condition better and reduce your chances of going back to hospital. AOTs are also known as complex care teams (CCT) or programme of assertive community treatment (PACT).

However, AOT’s no longer exist in most areas. You will be able to get support from the community mental health team if there is not an AOT in your area.

You may need the AOT if you have:
- a severe long-term mental illness that affects you every day,
- been in hospital many times and have often used crisis services,
- problems working with mental health services, or
- complex needs such as:
  - violent behaviour,
  - serious self-harming,
  - not responding to treatment,
  - drug or alcohol use and mental illness. This is known as dual diagnosis,
  - being detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act in the last 2 years, or
  - unstable accommodation or homelessness.
AOTs should review your care plan every 6 months.

On our webpage you can find more information about Drugs, alcohol, and mental health.

What is a forensic community mental health team?

A forensic community mental health team (FCMHT) is a specialist team that can support you if:
- you have a mental illness or personality disorder,
- you have a history of committing crime, or you may be a risk to others, and
- you are in the community or a secure hospital setting and working towards discharge.
Being in a secure hospital setting means you are detained in hospital under a forensic section of the Mental Health Act. This means you have committed a crime but have been sentence to a hospital order instead of a prison sentence.

The aims of FCMHTs are:
- to help you in your mental health recovery,
- improve your access to community rehabilitation, and
- offer you a different choice to hospital care.
Is a drug and alcohol team a mental health team?

Drug and alcohol teams are not usually specifically for people with mental health needs. They support people with an alcohol or drug addiction. They are sometimes called ‘addiction services.’

If you have an alcohol or drug addiction and a mental health condition this is called having a ‘dual diagnosis.’

You may need to work with both the drug and alcohol team and your mental health team to manage your symptoms. In some areas of the country the NHS will have a dual diagnosis team to support recovery. They will usually work as part of the community mental health team.

Providers of mental health and alcohol and drug use services have a joint responsibility to work together to meet the needs of people with dual diagnosis.

On our webpage you can find more information about Drugs, alcohol, and mental health.
Most staff in a mental health team will have a mental health or social care background.

Staff can include psychiatrists, social workers, mental health nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and support workers.

All staff work together and have meetings to discuss the progress of anyone they support. These meetings are called ‘multi-disciplinary meetings.’

Psychiatrists

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who has specialist training in mental health. They can diagnose mental illness, prescribe medication, and recommend treatment.

Social workers

A social worker is trained to give practical help with your social needs. Such as housing problems, financial issues, or by giving general support and advice.

Community psychiatric nurses (CPNs)

A CPN is a mental health nurse who works in the community. They can give you medication and help you to manage your mental health.

Psychologists

A psychologist is an expert in how your mind works. They will ask you questions to try to understand how your thoughts and feelings affect your behaviour. They can offer advice and therapy. They do not normally prescribe medication.

Occupational therapists

An occupational therapist will give practical support to help you to do activities that you find difficult. They will help you to think about different ways of doing the activity.

They will often give support in your home to help you to be as independent as possible.

Care coordinators

You might have a care coordinator. They are responsible for organising and monitoring your care.

Normally, you will see your care coordinator more often than other NHS staff.

Care coordinators can be nurses, social workers, community psychiatric nurses (CPN) or occupational therapists.

Approved mental health professionals (AMHP)

An AMHP is a mental health professional who is trained to use the Mental Health Act. They can be a psychologist, nurse, social worker, or occupational therapist.

They help to decide if you should be detained under the Mental Health Act. Normally 2 doctors also must agree that you should be detained.

The role of the AMHP is to give a social, rather than a medical opinion. Even if they have a medical background.

Other professionals

Other people will also make up the team. For example, managers, psychotherapists, support workers and administrators.
A referral is when a professional contacts a service to get help for you. To get support from an NHS mental health team sometimes you need a referral from a professional. But sometimes you can refer yourself, or a loved one can refer you. See below for more information on how you can get support from the different mental health teams.

How can I access my local NHS community mental health team or crisis team?

Community mental health teams and crisis teams can accept referrals from:
- NHS 111,
- GPs,
- Other primary care services, such as NHS talking therapy services,
- Psychiatric liaison teams in A&E,
- other mental health teams, and
- social services
Sometimes these teams will accept referrals from the police.

It is more unusual for these teams to accept direct referrals from you or your family.

How can I access my local NHS early intervention team?

Early intervention teams usually accept direct referrals from you or a family member.

How can I access my local NHS assertive outreach team?

Assertive outreach teams can accept referrals from:
- NHS 111 other mental health teams, and
- sometimes the police.
AOTs will not usually accept referrals from you, your family, or your GP.

How can I access a NHS forensic community mental health team?

You usually need to be referred by a psychiatrist, GP, prison mental health team, hospital, or the probation service.

What are NHS 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres?

You might be able to get mental health support from new NHS neighbourhood mental health centres. They are available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. You can just walk in and no referral or appointment is needed.

When we last updated this content in 2025 these centres were only available in some parts of England.

The centres bring together a range of community mental health services under one roof. These services include crisis services, community mental health services, and short-stay beds.

You can get support for things like housing, work, and volunteering, as well as mental health care. Different professionals work together in one building to make it easier for people to get the help they need in one place.

At these centres you might also be able to get help from organisations other than the NHS. Like your local authority or voluntary, faith, and community organisations.
You might have a mental illness and need support and treatment. You should be supported in line with the NHS community mental health framework for adults and older adults.

If you need mental health support the Framework aims to:
- put you at the centre of your care, with choice,
- give you one care plan, shared by people who support you,
- prevent problems, treat illness, and improve your quality of life,
- focus on joined-up, fair, and continuous support - especially if you have complex needs.
Click here to view a 5-minute NHS community mental health transformation video tells you more about the Framework

NHS mental health services and teams should use the Framework when supporting you.

On our webpage you can find more about:
- NHS community support for complex mental health needs - From the Care programme approach (CPA) to the Community mental health framework
While you wait for your appointment it may be helpful for you to try other ways to support your mental health. Like making social connections with people, talking about how you feel or trying self-help.

On our webpages you can find more information about:
At your first appointment you will have a mental health assessment with at least 1 health professional. Your assessment may take more than one appointment to complete.

The reason for the assessment is to find out what support and treatment you need to help you recover.

You will be asked about things such as the following.
- Your thoughts, feelings and actions
- Your symptoms and experiences
- Support you already have
- If you care for anyone
- Your housing and financial needs
- Your employment and training needs
- Your relationships
- Cultural or religious needs
- Drug or alcohol use
- Your current coping techniques
- What you want to achieve in the future
You might be asked about things that have happened in your past. Some people find this difficult. Do not be afraid to say if you do not feel comfortable talking about something.

Give the team any information that you think is important to help them to understand your needs.

If you find certain topics hard to discuss you could write down what you want to say before the appointment.

Your treatment or care plan should meet your mental health needs. You should be involved in the planning of your care. Your wishes for support and treatment should be listened to. Talk to your care team if you feel as though you are not being involved enough with your care.

You can also involve any carers, friends or family in your care planning. They should be encouraged to share their views. You should be asked on different occasions if you would like your family to be involved with your care.

What if I live with psychosis or a severe mental illness?

Your GP should offer you a regular physical health check if you live with psychosis a severe mental illness. This is because you are at higher risk of developing certain physical health conditions. Your GP have a register that should remind them when this is due.

On our webpage you can find more information about Severe mental illness and physical health checks
You should continue to get support from the mental health team until you no longer need it. But you will only usually get 3 years support from an early intervention team. This can be extended if you have not made a stable recovery.

When you no longer receive support from a service, you are ‘discharged’ from their care. Mental health teams should make sure that you have the right support to stay well before they discharge you.

As part of your discharge, you may be referred or signposted to a more appropriate service. For example, a crisis team may refer you to a community mental health team.

You should get information on what to do, and who to contact, if your mental health gets worse. This includes making you aware that if you need urgent mental health support you can:
- call NHS 111,
- or visit the NHS 111 mental health webpage
You could ask the team how you can be referred back to them if you need their support.

Who should be involved in the discharge process?

Your mental health team should involve you in the discharge process.

Mental health teams should also check if you have support from people close to you. This can include family members, friends or your partner. They should be involved in your discharge if you would like them to be.

What should I do if I do not think I should be discharged?

Ask the service to explain the reason why you were discharged.

If you disagree with their reason for discharge, you can:
- talk to the professional who referred you to see if they can help, and
- ask the service if you can see their policy. A service should have a policy to explain when patients will be discharged from the service. You have a right to request this information under the Freedom of Information Act.
What other services may support me if I am discharged from a mental health team?

When you are discharged from a mental health team you might get support from:
- your GP,
- a link worker through your GP,
- a different mental health team,
- social services, or
- charities such as Rethink Mental Illness.
On our webpages you can find more information about:
- GPs and your mental health
- Social care assessment - Under the Care Act 2014
If you are not happy with your care or treatment, you can:
- talk to your doctor about your care and treatment options,
- ask for a second opinion,
- get an advocate to support you,
- contact your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), or
- make a complaint.
On our webpages you can find out more about:
The mental health team (MHT) should do the following to support you.
- Give you information about how to care and support someone with a mental illness. This is sometimes called ‘psychoeducation.’
- Tell you about support available for carers.
- Offer family intervention if you support someone who lives with psychosis.
- Offer an assessment of your own needs if you care for someone who lives with psychosis. They should give a copy to your GP. This is a different assessment to a ‘carer’s assessment.’
- Tell you about your right to have a carer’s assessment from social services. This will be available to you if you need your own support to continue to support someone. It is free to have an assessment
On our webpage you can find more information about Carers assessment - Under the Care Act 2014

Do I have a right to know information about someone’s care and treatment?

An MHT can only usually share information about your loved one’s care if your loved one agrees to it.

On our webpage you can find more information about Confidentiality and information sharing – for carers, friends and relatives

How can I look after my own mental health?

As a carer it is important to look after your own mental wellbeing. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. If you need support to care for someone, you could try the following:
- Talk to friends and family
- Talk to your doctor
- Join a carers service. They are free and available in most areas
- Join a support group for carers, friends and family.
- Look after your mental wellbeing.
On our webpage you can find more information about Respite care - breaks for carers.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
You can find your local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) by using the search facility on the NHS choices website.

Website: www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/patient-advice-and-liaison-services-pals

NHS 111 for urgent mental health support
Call NHS 111 for 24-hour advice and support - for you or someone you care for. You can speak to a mental health professional. They will advise on the best course of care.

Phone: 111
Website: https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-mental-health-symptoms

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Last updated: August 2025
Next update: April 2028, subject to any changes

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