The NHS's first 24/7 mental health unit has opened under the 10 Year Health Plan.
The unit will support hundreds of patients in East London, offering walk-in support for people with mental illness.
The unit in Tower Hamlets is the first of six centres opening around the country. It will bring together a range of community mental health services under one roof, including crisis services, community mental health services and short-stay beds.
People with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar will be able to walk in without an appointment if they need mental health support and the unit will also offer advice on employment housing or volunteering.
The centres will be located in the heart of communities and staffed by a team that includes psychiatrists, mental health professionals, peer support workers, and voluntary sector staff.
Local authority, voluntary, faith and community sector organisations will also be onsite.
Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s National Mental Health Director, said: “We know that for people with serious mental health problems it can be daunting to seek help, and people can be overwhelmed by the different teams they come into contact with.
“That is why the NHS has been determined to make mental healthcare as easy as possible. The ‘one-stop shop’ approach will mean that people can get the care they need closer to home and at an earlier stage, with treatment in a comfortable environment.
“Whether someone needs help with their mental health, housing, or work, they’ll find help in their community, around the clock, and without the need for a referral.
“I would encourage anyone struggling with their mental health to come forward for care either by contacting their GP, NHS 111 or visiting their local neighbourhood centre.”
The remaining five centres will be opening Whitehaven (Cumbria), Acomb (York), Heeley (Sheffield), East of Birmingham, and Lewisham (London).
Lorraine Sunduza OBE, CEO of East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), said: “The Barnsley Street Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre will provide person-centred mental health care for people in Bethnal Green when they need it and bring NHS care closer to home.
“I am very proud that ELFT and partners Look Ahead and the Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance will be providing the first neighbourhood pilot site to be fully operational.”
Cassandra Geisel, Rethink Mental Illness and Lead of the Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance, said: “We know that timely access to mental health support close to home can be the difference between recovery and crisis for people living with severe mental illness.
“What people tell us, and what evidence shows, is that the most effective support is wraparound: providing access not only to clinical care and treatment but also to support with housing, employment, and building social connections.
“These factors can be powerful in preventing relapse and supporting recovery, but when absent, someone’s mental health can significantly worsen.
“This new one-stop shop mental health centre, bringing together clinical teams, voluntary sector partners and peer support workers, represents the future of mental health care.
“The Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance are proud to have played a role in bringing it to life.”
