The Havens

The Havens are dedicated, mental health crisis assessment facilities that provide support and assessment for adults over the age of 18 in East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton and Hove who are experiencing a mental health crisis.  The service is only available by referral.

The Havens are run by teams of dedicated NHS staff and provide:

  • Mental health crisis facilities available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • An alternative to attending A&E for people experiencing a mental health crisis
  • An alternative to hospital admission

There are Havens at:

  • Mill View Hospital in Hove
  • Langley Green Hospital in Crawley
  • Meadowfield Hospital on the Swandean site in Worthing
  • St Anne's Centre in St Leonards-on-Sea
  • Department of Psychiatry in Eastbourne

The Havens offer crisis assessments by referral only for people aged 18 and over who are medically fit and don't require urgent or emergency physical health care or assessment. 

The Havens offer an alternative if you would otherwise need to attend A&E, or where a community-based mental health urgent care service is not available locally.

You need to have the mental capacity to participate in the crisis assessment and agree to attend The Havens.

The Havens are not a walk-in service; assessment is by professional referral only. Paramedics as well as police are able to refer people to the Haven if they attend 999 calls and the person is found to be experiencing acute mental health distress.

Referrals will be accepted from any Sussex Partnership urgent or crisis team across Sussex and neighbouring mental health trusts.

Referrals will be accepted for patients who are registered with a Sussex GP or resident in Sussex.

Referrals must be made by telephone so that a clinical triage can be completed.

External referrals are accepted from:

  • SECAMB
  • Sussex Police
  • Sussex Community Foundation Trust
  • Acute hospitals (via Mental Health Liaison Team or MH Senior Nurse Practitioner)
  • Other partner organisations, including primary care where the person would otherwise be directed to A&E.

Our short film explains more about referrals. It's about the Haven at Mill View but gives good general information about how professionals can refer someone for help.


 

When you arrive at a Haven a team of nurses and support workers will welcome you and discuss your needs. 

The Havens are a quiet sanctuary; they don't have beds, instead, there are comfortable reclining chairs in curtained private areas. Lights in the personal spaces can be dimmed and cosy blankets can be provided. 

You can stay at a Haven for up to 23 hours, and we work with you so that you leave the facility with something to keep you safe and secure in the community. We can help you with a specialist crisis plan, advocate on your behalf with any other teams that are working with you or make referrals to other services that could help you before you reach crisis point again.