This month, MHCAS Service Manager, Thorarinn Freysson and Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Mehtab Rahman, represented CNWL at the Design in Mental Health 2026 conference – and the interest in MHCAS was clear to see.

Their presentation attracted a packed audience, with discussions continuing for more than an hour after the session finished. It highlighted the growing interest in the Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service (MHCAS) model and the impact it is having on mental health crisis care.

By offering a dedicated alternative to emergency departments for people experiencing a mental health crisis, MHCAS provides more appropriate and compassionate care. Increasingly, NHS organisations are looking at how they can adapt the model in their own areas.

The conference also provided an opportunity to connect with international experts, including Dr Scott Zeller, whose EmPATH model (emergency psychiatric assessment, treatment and healing) in the United States shares a similar vision of getting people the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Following the conference, Dr Zeller visited CNWL's MHCAS service to see the model in action.

Dr Mehtab Rahman said:

“Presenting at this national conference allowed us to demonstrate through real-time data, the significant positive impact that MHCAS is having on mental health crisis care. It gave us the opportunity to showcase our innovative three-tier model and our vision for the future of mental health emergency services, including the need for purpose-built environments and infrastructure designed around the needs of patients in crisis.”

Thorarinn Freysson said:

"The future of mental health crisis care is bright, and the future is MHCAS." 

With national momentum building and international partnerships taking shape, CNWL's MHCAS model is firmly at the forefront of transforming how we respond to mental health emergencies across the country.