Report: What do we mean by a Mental Health Crisis?

This Newcastle-based study investigates the public understanding of what constitutes a mental health crisis and how equipped people feel to respond to a mental health crisis. It also asks what services they would seek support from in the event of a crisis, and how effective they think those services are.

Respondents' definitions of a mental health crisis varied, including "a brain illness", "the brain being under extreme pressure", "struggling to cope with emotions or daily life" and "being at risk of harming themselves or others."

45% of participants said they would be comfortable seeking help for mental health issues, and 53% rated their knowledge of how to respond to a mental health crisis as ‘very little’ or worse.

The report's conclusion highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in public understanding, awareness and access to mental health services in Newcastle.

Click the download button below to read the full report: