A 24/7 helpline that helps people in the Black Country struggling with their mental health is in line for a national award.
The Black Country 24/7 Urgent Mental Health Helpline, run by Rethink Mental Illness, has been shortlisted for the Resilience in the Face of Adversity Award at the Helpline Awards.
The service is commissioned by Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the lead provider of mental health, learning disability and autism services in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The Black Country 24/7 Urgent Mental Health Helpline is free and available 365 days a year, providing immediate access to advice, triage, referrals and signposting for people experiencing mental ill-health. It is available to anyone living in the Black Country of all ages and no referral is required.
Mental health professionals are on hand to help callers avoid a crisis and find the path to recovery. The service also provides emotional support to callers in distress, callers in need of reassurance and for times when people need someone to listen.
The nomination comes as the helpline has seen a surge in demand, with a 34% rise in the number of calls answered this year compared to last year.
The line was initially set up as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic and is part of a wider package of support on offer in the Black Country to help people in mental health crisis avoid hospitalisation.
The Helpline Awards celebrate the vital work of helplines around the country. The Black Country 24/7 Urgent Mental Health Helpline is in the running for a newly created award which recognises organisations that have delivered a brilliant service in the face of challenges since 2020.
Marcus Law, Senior Commissioner for Mental Health at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted that the vital work of the Black Country 24/7 Helpline has been recognised by the Helpline Awards, especially in light of the challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We would like to thank Rethink Mental Illness Black Country and their dedicated team for their unwavering support of our communities, making a difference every day to help callers experiencing a mental health crisis.
“The helpline is an invaluable support to our communities and we are proud to commission this important service as lead provider for mental health services in Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
“The success of the helpline shows that by working with our partners we can help create happier, healthier communities here in the Black Country.”
Lindsey Gooding, Contract Manager for Rethink Mental Illness Black Country Services, said: “Community support is key in helping people who experience mental illness stay well and live a full life.
“We are extremely proud of the support that our Black Country 24/7 Urgent Mental Health Helpline team provide.
“It’s been great to see the strong partnership with the Black Country Healthcare Foundation Trust going from strength to strength.”
To contact the Black Country 24/7 Urgent Mental Health Helpline, call 0800 008 6516 or text 07860 025 281.