People across England experiencing a mental health crisis or significant distress will be able to access specialist support closer to home under plans to open almost 200 new community-based services.
Walk-in mental health centres to open in banks and libraries across England
The government has announced plans for 100 new community mental health centres, alongside 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments.
The services will form part of a major redesign of mental health care, with some centres expected to open in familiar high street settings such as libraries, banks and other community buildings.
The first locations are due to open in autumn 2026, with further facilities expected to follow from March 2027. The programme is backed by £343m.
Mental health support without a referral
The new community mental health centres will offer walk-in support, meaning people will not need to obtain a GP referral before seeking help.
The hubs are intended for people who are struggling with their mental health but may not require hospital treatment.
By providing an accessible alternative to general A&E departments, ministers hope to intervene earlier and prevent problems from escalating into a crisis.
Some centres will be created in new buildings, while others will be based in existing community spaces.
The government said they would be located “in the heart of the neighbourhoods they serve” and designed to feel welcoming and non-clinical rather than like traditional healthcare settings.
Many of the hubs are expected to open seven days a week. Some will also include short-stay beds for people who need a safe place to receive support over a limited period.
A different route to urgent care
Thousands of people currently attend A&E when they reach crisis point, often because they cannot find appropriate mental health support elsewhere.
The plans will also create 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments, in addition to the 23 already operating.
Many will be attached to existing hospitals, but will provide a calmer and more therapeutic environment for people experiencing an urgent mental health crisis.
These specialist departments are intended for people who are medically well enough not to need treatment in a general emergency department but require same-day mental health care.
Together, the new centres and emergency departments will bring nurses, therapists, support workers and other existing teams together in a more joined-up model of care.
First sites to build on pilots
Six areas have been trialling community-based mental health services since 2024. The government says the national rollout will build on those pilots and create a more consistent way for people to access urgent support locally.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said people should not have to wait months for help before being offered support, only to find that a busy A&E department is the only service available to them.
“These new centres will be a lifeline for so many,” he said, adding that bringing NHS services closer to people’s homes could make it easier to get help before problems worsen.
Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the programme would focus on prevention, earlier treatment and reducing waits for care. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, she said the first centres would open in autumn, with a continuing programme of new facilities following across England.
The government says existing teams will be brought together to work in new ways, rather than relying solely on a large increase in staffing.
However, mental health leaders have argued that long-term investment in the workforce will be crucial if the new services are to cope with demand.
Bringing care closer to home
The government describes the plans as the biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation.
By placing some hubs in everyday settings such as libraries and banks, it hopes to make seeking help feel less intimidating and more accessible.
The success of the programme will depend on how quickly the centres open, how widely they are distributed and whether they have enough trained staff.
For people facing distress, however, the central promise is straightforward: a more local, recognisable place to seek specialist mental health support before reaching crisis point.
