A CRISIS centre offering overnight support to people with mental health problems has opened in Bolton.

The Sanctuary Bolton was launched by mental health charity Self Help Services last week — and will keep people out of police cells and A&E departments.

It will be run all night, every night from the Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme building in Breightmet Street.

The Sanctuary Bolton will be a place of safety and support, welcoming people experiencing anxiety, panic attacks, depression or suicidal thoughts.

It will provide people experiencing a crisis during the night with an important alternative to A&E.

Police and crime commissioner Tony Lloyd opened the centre — having previously campaigned for alternative plans to be in place for patients picked up by police officers, other than keeping them in cells.

Self Help Services are behind The Sanctuary, which was approved by NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) .

Mr Lloyd said: “The Sanctuary centres in Leigh and Manchester have already helped hundreds of people at a time when they feel the most vulnerable so I’m delighted to be part of the Bolton launch.

“The Sanctuary Bolton will provide a crucial service, bringing hope to many people with mental health issues and complementing the work we’re doing across Bolton and Greater Manchester to transform mental health crisis care and protect the most vulnerable in our communities.”

The Bolton service follows successful ones in Manchester and Leigh, and was opened by Mr Lloyd on Tuesday, March 10.

Nicky Lidbetter, Chief officer of Self Help Services, said: “There’s a range of great mental health services in Bolton for people with common mental health conditions like anxiety and depression and the Sanctuary will compliment these throughout the night.

“We’re proud to be working with healthcare partners in Bolton to ensure that people receive appropriate support in the community when they need it most, preserving A&E services for those experiencing medical crisis.”

The Sanctuary will further lessen the burden on police forced to detain people under the Mental Health Act, with a unit at Royal Bolton Hospital already in place to keep people out of cells.

Mr Lloyd has said: "The pressure this puts on police is simply unacceptable and it is terrible for those being detained. Let’s not forget they’ve not committed any offence. They are in a police cell simply because they are unwell.”

Since its opening in 2013, The Sanctuary has supported more than 650 people, and a report by the University of Manchester found that seven per cent of people who used it would have self-harmed or attempted suicide if they had not had access to it.

Bolton residents in need should call The Sanctuary on 0300 303 0581. Following a conversation with trained staff, people will either be offered telephone support or invited in for support.