How our service can help you
The First Response Service (FRS) is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service that ensures improved access to services for people, of all ages, experiencing a mental health crisis. FRS ensures that the right care is provided by the right person in the right place. FRS is made up of a range of mental health professionals with different skills and backgrounds. We work closely with other professionals, services and organisations to support the needs of those in a mental health crisis and provide a consistency of care.
The information below is available to download in a our pdf service leaflet available here: First Response Service information leaflet 2024.[pdf] 595KB
Mental health crisis
If your mental or emotional state quickly gets worse or deteriorates, this can be called a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis. There will be different reasons and a crisis will look different for different people. You might feel overwhelmed by your emotions or so distressed that you want to harm yourself or someone else. You might hear unpleasant voices or feel that people are watching you or trying to hurt you, alternatively you may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. Whatever your experience, please reach out and take the first step to getting help and support quickly. Please call FRS on 111 (choose mental health option).
What FRS will do
• Telephone triage – a health professional will ask questions to assess your current situation, exacerbating factors and the impact on your mental health.
• Further assessment – if deemed necessary, and following a telephone triage, FRS clinicians may recommend and carry out a face-to-face assessment.
• Referral to other services – following an assessment, FRS may refer service users to other mental health teams.
• Signposting - where appropriate our tele coaches may suggest alternative community support from one of our approved mental health support partners.
We are unable to provide:
• Unable to provide routine medication, apart from in rare emergency situations when FRS initiate a treatment plan to this effect.
• Unable to provide repeat prescriptions/medications and will redirect to GP or 111 physical health in these instances.
• Unable to provide an immediate face-to-face response.
• Unable to triage people who are open to another community mental health team (during the team’s working hours).
Immediate mental health support
If you have an immediate, life-threatening emergency requiring mental or physical health assistance, you should call 999 or go to your local Accident and Emergency Department.
Non-urgent mental health support
Speak to your GP. They can put you in touch with local services.
Refer yourself for free NHS Talking Therapies: NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Talking Therapies | CPFT NHS Trust
Tel: 0300 300 0055
Contact CPSL Mind: CPSL Mind
Tel: 0300 303 4363
Text HEAR to 85258
A free 24 hour text support service: Text HEAR to 85258 | CPICS Website
Contact Lifecraft for mental health support: Welcome - Lifecraft
Freephone: 0808 808 2121
Contact the Samaritans: www.samaritans.org
Freephone: 116 123 (24 hours a day)
Other resources
Drug and Alcohol Support: Change, Grow, Live (CGL)
Telephone 0300 555 0101
www.changegrowlive.org
Bereavement: Cruse Bereavement Support
Freephone 0808 808 1677
www.cruse.org.uk
Dementia: Alzheimer’s Society
0333 150 3456
www.alzheimers.org.uk
Domestic Abuse: Refuge (for women and children)
Freephone 0808 200 0247
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Domestic Abuse: Respect (for men)
Freephone 0808 801 0327
www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Debt Advice: Step Change
Freephone 0800 138 1111
www.stepchange.org
Housing: Shelter
Freephone 0808 800 4444
www.shelter.org.uk
LGBTQIA+ Support : Switchboard
Freephone 0800 011 9100
www.switchboard.lgbt
Older people aged 55 or over: The Silverline
Freephone 0800 470 80 90
www.thesilverline.org.uk
Victims of Crime: Victim Support
Freephone 0808 168 9111
www.victimsupport.org.uk
How to contact the First Response Service
Please call FRS on 111 (choose mental health option).
Contact the service
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Elizabeth House
Fulbourn Hospital
Fulbourn
Cambridge
CB21 5EF(Please note: FRS provides a telephone service. This is an administrative base only, which has no access to patients).
Telephone 111 ( and then select the mental health option)
- Business Hours/Visiting Hours: 24/7, 365 days a year
Referral Information
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Self referrals, GPs, social care professionals, emergency services and voluntary organisations
How to cancel your appointment
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Call 111, and select the mental health option
Carers Information
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A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.
At Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, we value the often life-long support carers provide and recognise them as equal care partners. We want to offer as much guidance and reassurance as possible, to help you in your caring role. You can find general information and support for adult carers, young carers and parent carers by following this link.