Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Service has been providing a user-led crisis service for more than 10 years. This article describes the services offered at their crisis sanctuary, Dial House. Visitors to Dial House can have one-to-one support from crisis support workers who have themselves experienced mental health problems. The service offers non-judgemental empathy, safety and a refuge space, welcoming those with challenging behaviour. Almost all visitors have psychiatric diagnosis, such as schizophrenia, personality disorder and depression, but the service distances itself from a psychiatric medical model. It offers itself as an alternative to hospital admission, and is open when most mental health services are closed.
Leeds Survivor-Led Crisis Service has been providing a user-led crisis service for more than 10 years. This article describes the services offered at their crisis sanctuary, Dial House. Visitors to Dial House can have one-to-one support from crisis support workers who have themselves experienced mental health problems. The service offers non-judgemental empathy, safety and a refuge space, welcoming those with challenging behaviour. Almost all visitors have psychiatric diagnosis, such as schizophrenia, personality disorder and depression, but the service distances itself from a psychiatric medical model. It offers itself as an alternative to hospital admission, and is open when most mental health services are closed.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, service users, support groups, survivors, user-led organisations, crisis intervention;