Tower Hamlets in East London is the first of six centres opening around the country to bring together a range of community mental health services under one roof, including crisis services, community mental health services and short-stay beds.    

Claire Murdoch, NHS England's national mental health director, said: ‘The ‘one stop shop' approach will mean that people can get the care they need closer to home and at an earlier stage, with treatment in a comfortable environment.    

‘Whether someone needs help with their mental health, housing, or work, they'll find help in their community, around the clock and without the need for a referral.'

The new initiative is part of a wider effort to make sure mental health care is available when and where it's needed, including the roll out of 24/7 psychiatric teams in every A&E and the world's first 24/7 mental health crisis helplines across England, and dedicated Mental Health Emergency Departments for those in crisis.  

The five other neighbourhood centres to open in inner city and rural locations later this year are: Whitehaven (Cumbria)– Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust; Acomb (York) – York Mental Health Partnership; East of Birmingham - Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust; Lewisham, London – South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; and Heeley (Sheffield) – Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Rebecca Gray, NHS Confederation mental health director, said: ‘NHS leaders fully support the commitment to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community and will welcome the boosting of neighbourhood health services and the roll out of the first 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health centre which is a vital step towards a more preventative, community-based NHS.

‘These centres should interconnect with the models of neighbourhood health being established across the system and the other mental health services announced in the Government's recent 10-Year Health Plan, such as mental health emergency departments and assertive outreach teams.'