Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS)

  • We are a 24/7 mental health emergency department offering emergency mental health assessment to anyone presenting to us or directed to us from crisis services or local emergency departments.

    We help people to resolve their mental health crisis in a supportive environment and have very strong links to a number of crisis services and voluntary sector services for ongoing support. We aim to provide a viable alternative to people needing to attend an acute emergency department when in mental health crisis.

    We cannot manage those with need for immediate medical intervention such as medical illness or severe self-harm – these would need to attend an acute emergency department within your local hospital. Police and ambulance referrals will be screened for appropriateness of referral to make sure we can meet their needs appropriately.

  • Borough(s): All boroughs
  • Age range treated: 18+
  • Address:
    K Block,  Highgate West,  Highgate Mental Health Centre,  Dartmouth Park Hill, London, N19 5JG
  • Phone number: Crisis line 0300 200 0169 or NHS 111#2
  • Service hours: 24/7

Conditions treated

Any emergency mental health crisis requiring assessment

Service manager(s)

Denisha Palmer

Who is this service for?

Anyone over 18 and in emergency mental health crisis needed immediate assessment.

What to expect

Nurse led unit with medical (psychiatric) support and mental health support workers. A calm and therapeutic environment for assessment of your emergency mental health needs. We aim to assess and support you and signpost and refer to other services as needed. We have a large lounge area and a number of individual assessment rooms.

How to access this service

Please call crisis line as first port of call and if they feel it is needed you can be directed direct to our service. Ambulance and other emergency services can bring directly to us and people can self-present to our front door.

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