A new mental health crisis facility is set to officially launch in Cardiff.

The Seibiant Sanctuary, run by mental health and social justice charity Platfform, will be the first non-clinical, community-based, and trauma-informed alternative to A&E in Cardiff and the Vale.

The facility will officially launch on November 14, 2024.

The Seibiant Sanctuary has been open since 2023 and has already supported more than 250 people.

Between July and October this year, the facility received 156 referrals for mental health support, which is an average of 10 per week.

The Seibiant Sanctuary is run by a team of trauma-informed trained professionals and is open every day of the year from 5pm to 1am.

The facility offers telephone support or face-to-face appointments the same evening.

The facility operates in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and provides out-of-hours mental health and emotional support, stabilisation and regulation, as well as signposting to follow-up support in the daytime.

Katie Mills, Seibiant Sanctuary service manager, said: "As the Sanctuary project grows, we aim to help as many people as possible and reach out to other organisations such as GPs and crisis teams in the future, to expand our referral pathways.

"Every time I tell somebody about our Sanctuary project, they express how needed something like this is.

"Our goal is to help change the system and to let people know we can offer a safe space in such difficult times and are here to listen.

"Our trauma-informed approach and relational way of working has had a huge positive response so far, so we hope this will continue going forward."

Geoff, who was recently referred to the Seibiant Sanctuary, said: "Everyone has been extremely compassionate, patient, and understanding which has made me feel less alone, ashamed and isolated - I just wanted you to know that you've made a big difference in my life."

The service can be accessed by dialling the NHS emergency telephone helpline 111 and pressing option ‘2’ once prompted.

If appropriate, the NHS 111 team then refer the caller to one of Platfform’s seven Sanctuary team members, who aim to call them back within 30 minutes.