Happy Birthday, CATSS!

CATSS, Northamptonshire Healthcare’s crisis and telephone support service is one year old on February 2.

Launched in 2009, CATSS provides support for people living in the community who use mental health services and need some immediate support. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is particularly for people who do not feel able to cope without help from a mental health worker.

Since the service began 12 months ago, CATSS has received more than 6,000 calls and is now handling around 800 calls per month.

More than three quarters of all calls are handled solely by the six-strong CATSS team, who have backgrounds in a range of specialties, including elderly mental health, adult mental health and forensic and prison health services.

Their experience is backed up by intensive training.

The team also works closely with community and inpatient mental health services and out-of-hours health services, and can call in additional support for people who need urgent assistance.

CATSS co-ordinator, mental health nurse Eileen Moloney said: “Most of our callers simply need advice or reassurance to help them manage, but a small number of callers require more intensive support.

“I am very pleased that service users trust us and call us when they are experiencing an emergency. We are in an ideal position to reassure them and quickly arrange additional support if required.

“We have also had some very positive feedback from service users and care co-ordinators. We are hoping to gather more feedback to help us refine and improve the service further.”

In the photograph: the CATSS team (left to right): Marshal Mataya, Eileen Moloney, Margaret Carson (seated), Levy Mushayi, Candida Thornton-Scott and Mandeep Gill.