Bristol Mental Health

Bristol Mental Health is an NHS-funded partnership of 18 public and voluntary sector organisations. Below is a list of the services they provide with details about how to access them. For more information about these services please click here to visit the Bristol Mental Health website.

  • ACE (Assertive and contact engagement service) – reaches out to people who face complex barriers to services, including barriers due to cultural background or chaotic lifestyles. Staff work with people from different communities in Bristol, including the LGBT community, asylum seekers and refugees, rough sleepers, parents, and those with risky drug and alcohol use.. Telephone 0117 239 8969 (Monday to Friday 8am-8pm) or email awp.bmhace@nhs.net. Provided by St Mungos and One 25.
  • Assessment & recovery service – ensures all service users get the treatment and support they need to take control of their own mental health. Referrals are normally made by a GP, However, people who have used A&R before will be able to speak to a member of staff to discuss referring themselves to the service. Opening times: 8am-8pm, Monday-Sunday.
  • Bristol Sanctuary – a safe, welcoming place for people who are experiencing severe emotional distress. Open Thursday-Monday from 5pm-midnight at Gloucester House, Dorian Way, Southmead. Telephone 07790295661 or email awp.bmhsanctuary@nhs.net.
  • Talking Therapies – Vita Minds helps people experiencing low mood, anxiety and stress using talking therapies. Referrals can be made by GPs or other professionals, and people can also refer themselves. For further information or to self-refer call 0333 200 1893 
  • Community access support service – helps people from Bristol’s diverse communities to access mental health services. It does not refer patients but supports community groups to signpost members to the right mental health help. For more information call CASS on 0117 304 1400 or email info@cassbristol.org.
  • Community rehabilitation service – supports people with long-term mental health problems and complex needs. For more information call Second Step on 0117 909 6630 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) or email rehabilitation@second-step.co.uk or visit the website
  • Complex psychological interventions – provides a wide range of therapies and develops the skills of staff, depending on the needs of individual service users. People are usually referred for psychological therapies where complex, longstanding needs have not been addressed by previous interventions. For more information visit the AWP website.
  • Crisis service – if you need immediate help call 0300 555 0334. The line is open 24 hours a day, every day, and calls are charged at local rate. If you have a routine enquiry, call 0117 919 5670 from 8am-8pm.
  • Dementia wellbeing service – helps people live as well as possible and for as long as possible with dementia. Dementia practitioners are assigned to GP practices and provide clinical support. Dementia navigators promote independent living and quality of life. GP’s refer patients to the service. For more information call 0117 961 0693 (Monday to Friday 8am-8pm) or click here to visit the Dementia Wellbeing Service website.
  • Early intervention in psychosis – a service for people aged 14-35, including talking therapies, education, activities, mediation and working with a care coordinator. Referrals are normally made by GPs. For more information call AWP on 0117 919 2371 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm) or visit the AWP website.
  • Employment service – for people with a mental health problem who want support to stay in or get back into work. For more information contact the Richmond Fellowship on 0117 9471189 or 0117 923 2741 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm), or email enquiries.bmhemployment@richmondfellowship.org.uk.
  • Inpatient services – specialist inpatient support for people with complex needs. These services are run by AWP at Callington Road Hospital in Brislington and Southmead Hospital. Call 0117 919 5600 (Callington Road) or 0117 950 5050 (Southmead Hospital); both open 24/7.
  • Learning disabilities services – With services and support provided across inpatient and community settings, our teams of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, nurses and support workers are dedicated to provide access to professional help to those with mental health problems and a co-existing learning disability. Contact New Friends Hall, Community Learning Disabilities Teams, North Bristol – 0117 908 5000, Central Bristol – 0117 9585 666, South Bristol – 0117 9878 383. For further information visit the AWP website.
  • Men’s crisis house – for men experiencing mental health problems where hospital admission might be the only other alternative. Referrals are made by telephoning the house on 0117 934 9848 (open 24/7).
  • Primary care liaison service – The Primary care mental health liaison service is a short-term support service to help people with mental health difficulties to move forward and get on with their lives. They only receive referrals from GPs and other health or social care professionals. For more information visit the AWP website.
  • Bristol Wellbeing College – offers hope and learning to people from across Bristol, and the college has something to offer everyone from people with mild mental health concerns to others living with serious long term conditions. All courses are free for people who use mental health services and their carers, and a number are also open to staff and volunteers too. For further information visit the Second Step website.
  • Women’s Crisis House- (also known as Link House) provides a safe place for women in mental health crisis to stay. Women can stay at the house for up to four weeks. Women can self-refer or be referred by a health professional, such as a GP, nurse or care co-ordinator. For more information call 0117 924 6459 (line open 8am-6pm daily) or visit the Missing Link website.
  • OK Rehab– OK Rehab specialises in local drug and alcohol rehab and addiction treatment. This treatment is available via both inpatient and outpatient treatment providers. We also work with clinics that are able to facilitate treatment taking place in your own home, who are able to provide professional intervention and home detoxification
  • The South West Gambling Service is now open. It will provide FREE confidential support to people affected by gambling addiction. If you are registered with a GP in the Bristol area and would like support to stop gambling then please get in contact. The South West Gambling is a team of caring and compassionate clinicians who provide specialist therapies to people affected by gambling addiction. Our team are passionate about helping people recover and we provide the most evidence based interventions.The South West Gambling Service offers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, group sessions, virtual sessions over the telephone.To access the service you must be aged 18 and over and be a resident in the South West. You will be able to refer yourself directly to the Gambling Service by phoning 0330 022 3175 or emailing us awp.referralsgamblingsw@nhs.net Monday to Friday, 9-5pm.