The Compassionate Distress Response Service (CDRS) – Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership’s (HSCP) service to support adults experiencing emotional distress – celebrated the first anniversary of its Out of Hours service on 25 May 2021.

Since its launch as a telephone support service, operated for the HSCP by Glasgow Association for Mental Health (GAMH), the CDRS has supported over 1,700 Glasgow City residents to manage their distress at their initial point of crisis and afterwards. Less than 2% of people referred to the service have needed to be seen by clinical services, suggesting that for the vast majority, the service is exactly what they need, when they need it.

The CDRS is available to adults 18 and over, who at the time of their distress are currently within the geographical area of Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership and involved with services or one of our referral agencies. The CDRS supports people who don’t require a medical or specialist psychiatric assessment in their period of emotional distress.

Rena Ali, Service Manager, GAMH said: “The CDRS is a professional-to-professional referral service that supports individuals in acute distress, who feel overwhelmed or unable to cope. Referrals come to us by phone, from Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, Mental Health Assessment Units and other first responders, and we call the person back. People referred to us have been assessed as not requiring a clinical service but are in considerable distress, with many individuals expressing suicidal thoughts. Our one hour response time allows us to provide immediate support to individuals.” 

Rena continued: “Our role in CDRS is to support people in the moment of crisis and reduce levels of personal distress by providing a safe space to talk. This allows the person to tell their story and feel heard. Staff work with individuals to agree a tailored plan, which includes supporting and encouraging coping strategies and self-management techniques. Follow-up calls are arranged with each person to encourage and motivate them to engage in new skills and strategies. It’s been a very difficult year for people and we anticipate that referrals will continue to increase as we move out of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Ronnie Sharp, Patient Services Manager, Glasgow City HSCP said: “The HSCP commissioned GAMH to deliver a non-clinical, alternative distress response. GAMH’s team of staff receive professional-to-professional referrals from 9am to 2am Monday to Friday and 5pm to 2am Saturday and Sunday every day of the year. Over 1,700 Glasgow City residents have been supported since the launch last May in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

“The HSCP also commissions an in-hours service from GAMH to support referrals from General Practitioners, as part of the Primary Care Improvement Plan. We hope to expand the service further during the summer with an enhanced pathway for 16 to 25 year olds. We’re also investigating the needs of our Black, Asian and minority ethnic young people; how we respond to distress in children and how we ensure the families of children and young people who need our mental health services are supported and heard.”

Further information on the service is available from Ronnie.Sharp@ggc.scot.nhs.uk or Ruth.Donnelly3@ggc.scot.nhs.uk