Crawley crisis walk-in service extends support to midnight

People experiencing a self-defined mental-health crisis in Crawley can now walk into a specialist service every afternoon and evening, without arranging an appointment.

Accident and emergency departments can be overwhelming for someone at breaking point, while limited out-of-hours options may leave people waiting or unsure where to turn.

From 1 September, Crawley Staying Well is open from 3pm to midnight, Monday to Sunday, throughout the year. Waythrough and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust co-deliver the service near County Oak Retail Park. Mental-health and peer-support workers provide face-to-face help, with virtual drop-ins and group sessions also available. The extended hours are intended to give people timely support in a calmer setting and reduce inappropriate A&E attendance.

The model combines open access, longer hours and lived-experience support, making it a practical alternative rather than a referral promise. The trust has not published capacity, usage or outcome figures, so the expansion’s effect on crises and hospital demand is still unknown.

The service will now operate on its longer schedule, while future attendance and A&E data can show whether access improves.