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Walk-in mental health centres to open in banks and libraries across England

Walk-in mental health centres to open in banks and libraries across England

The government has announced plans to establish nearly 200 new community mental health facilities across England by 2029, bringing specialist support closer to where people live. The programme includes 100 community mental health centres, many located in accessible places such as former banks, libraries, or other high street buildings, alongside 59 additional dedicated mental health emergency departments. The aim is to provide immediate help for people experiencing severe mental distress, reducing the number who turn to busy hospital A&E departments because no other support is available. Many centres will operate seven days a week, with some offering short-stay beds and multi-disciplinary teams including nurses, therapists, and support workers. Ministers say the initiative builds on successful pilot schemes and represents a major investment in early intervention and crisis care. Mental health organisations have welcomed the plans but stress that their success will depend on recruiting enough specialist staff to meet growing demand and ensuring services are available for children as well as adults.