A NEW overnight mental health crisis centre has received a visit from the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.

Sir Peter Fahy spent the day at The Sanctuary Wigan and Leigh meeting some of the centre's first service users and finding out what difference it has made.

The centre, which is run by mental health charity Self Help Services, offers people living with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and panic attacks a safe and reassuring place to turn to overnight rather than going to their local A&E department.

Sir Peter said: “We think it is inappropriate for police officers to have to be asked to deal with someone suffering a mental health crisis except in the most serious of circumstances.

"I really welcome the opening of the Sanctuary as this is a much better way of offering help and support for people going through a difficult time.

"Our research shows that most incidents involving a mental illness crisis happen in the evening or during the night so the fact that this is an overnight facility will avoid the use of police stations as places of safety which cannot be in a patient’s interest."

The visit comes just days after Leigh MP Andy Burnham visited The Sanctuary which is open all night, every night from 8pm through to 6am and provides a place of safety and support where people can speak to staff, use a calm room and find out what other help is available after their visit.

All visitors to the Sanctuary are provided with a ‘recovery plan’ which details the next steps to be taken on that person’s journey to recovery from mental ill health.

The Sanctuary Wigan and Leigh, based at Patrick House in Leigh, can be accessed by any resident who is registered with a GP by calling 01942 410522.