Cygnet Hospital Colchester to open new acute service for men

Cygnet Hospital Colchester

Highwoods Ward at Cygnet Hospital Colchester, Essex, is our new 19 bed male acute service and is due to open in early September. The service will provide a safe and stabilising environment for men who are experiencing an acute episode of mental illness and require an emergency admission.

The ethos of the service is about assessing and treating service users in the least restrictive environment and planning for discharge in a robust and timely fashion. With a focus on stabilisation, the team on Highwoods Ward will support service users to manage their mental health, reinforce daily living skills and prepare for independent life back in the community.

The team will work closely and collaboratively with service users, their families and the referrer to provide a seamless pathway from referral to discharge. Our approach is recovery focused and supported by a comprehensive multi-disciplinary team, contributing to shorter lengths of stay.

Our service user profile:

  • Men, aged 18+
  • May be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act
  • Experiencing an acute episode of mental illness requiring a crisis admission
  • Diagnoses may include:
    • Acute mental illness
    • Acute depressive illness
    • Psychosis
    • Schizophrenia
    • Bi-polar disorder
    • Personality disorder
    • Dual diagnosis
  • May present with co-morbid presentations:
    • Self-harm
    • Substance misuse issues
    • Complex needs

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