This Time to Talk Day, we shine a spotlight on the dedicated professionals working behind the scenes at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (CWP) 24/7 mental health crisis line. This vital service, accessed via NHS 111 (mental health option), ensures that people experiencing a mental health crisis can get the support they need, whenever they need it.

Alexa McKeegan has been a First Response Operative at CWP’s Urgent Crisis Line since 2019. With a background in community care and experience working at Bowmere Hospital, she has played a key role in developing the service. Alexa and her colleagues are there for anyone in crisis, offering advice, reassurance, and guidance towards further support.

“The role can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding,” says Alexa. “We support people through some of their most difficult moments, and while we don’t always get to hear the outcome, sometimes we receive a call back with an update on their progress – that makes all the difference.”

The crisis line receives calls from individuals experiencing a range of serious mental health concerns, from anxiety and panic attacks to suicidal thoughts and psychotic episodes. One call that stands out to Alexa involved an elderly woman struggling with loneliness after losing her husband. “She didn’t know how to use a mobile phone, so I sent her local support resources by post. She later told us she had started attending local community groups and making friends again – that really stayed with me.

Maria Townsend, Clinical Lead for CWP’s First Response Service, highlights the importance of accessible crisis support:

“We are here when you need us, not when it suits us. We are here when you are awake and when you think everyone else is asleep. That ethos has shaped our service since launching the 24/7 crisis line in April 2020. Crucially, our service is all-age and open to anyone, including children and young people - something that sets us apart from many other crisis services.”

Alongside the crisis line, Alexa talks about the fantastic third-sector organisations that provide mental health support in the region. This includes the Crisis Cafés in Cheshire, Crewe, Macclesfield, and Wirral, which offer safe spaces for people aged 18+ experiencing emotional distress. Open 365 days a year, they provide a welcoming environment for peer support, creative activities, and wellbeing workshops.

She also highlights Tomorrow’s Women, a charity in Chester and Wirral supporting women with mental health, substance misuse, confidence, financial issues, and social isolation, as well as the Martin Gallier Project, a Wirral-based suicide prevention charity offering intervention and postvention support for individuals and families.

Alexa’s advice to anyone hesitant about calling the crisis line is:

“A problem shared is a problem halved. You will always be greeted by someone who is polite, ready to listen, and eager to help. We assess your situation and guide you to the right support.”

 

Find the Right Support

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Time to Talk Day

Today is Time to Talk Day – a reminder of the importance of conversations around mental health and wellbeing. If you are struggling, you are not alone.

For more information and ideas on how to get involved, visit: Time To Talk Day - Time To Talk Day