Published on: 22 December 2025
Christmas is often portrayed as a season filled with joyful family gatherings, hearty warm meals, and lovely gifts. However, the holidays can be challenging for many individuals – just last Christmas Day, the Samaritans helpline received around 800 calls for help. 
A local NHS Trust is reminding anyone who may have difficulty during the festive season that mental health support is accessible.
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and other local groups understand that mental health is key to our overall wellbeing, and they have expanded their services to better address people's needs.
They include the Derby Safe Haven, which is run by Waythrough (formerly Richmond Fellowship) and is open as a walk-in, non-appointment service, from 4:30pm to 12:30am, 365 days a year – including all bank holidays and throughout the festive period.
Chesterfield Safe Haven, operated by charity P3, offers support daily from 4:30pm to 12:30am.
Sam*, who has accessed the Safe Haven service after experiencing problems with his mental health, said: “I walked into Derby Safe Haven because I didn’t feel safe being alone that night.”
The Safe Haven is a place where people aged 18 or over can get support when they feel overwhelmed or unable to cope. It offers a compassionate and non-judgmental space with therapeutic support around ongoing safety and wellbeing, next steps in recovery and help with building a sense of hope for the future.
Sam said: “Within minutes I felt calmer. The staff didn’t judge me, they listened, helped me make a plan and reminded me that I wasn’t on my own.
“It made all the difference.”
The team of support workers at the Safe Havens in Derby and Chesterfield are trained to listen to people to understand what is causing their mental health crisis and to find ways to bring the person out of their crisis.
Rubine Sharif, Registered Manager for Derby Safe Haven, explains the importance of seeking help during the festive period, as well as providing some useful tips on ways to better manage this time of year.
She said: “At Derby Safe Haven, we understand how quickly a person’s emotional wellbeing can change, especially during the festive period. Our team provides a warm, calm and welcoming space where individuals can come to breathe, be heard and begin to feel safe again. No one should have to navigate a mental health crisis alone
“Our service offers a genuine alternative to A&E for people experiencing emotional distress. We focus on de-escalation, compassion and practical next steps, helping individuals regain control and hope for the days ahead.”
Safe Haven teams are not clinicians but support visitors in crisis by helping them plan, maintain daily routines, and focus on positive aspects of life.
Rubine added: “The Safe Haven model is built on kindness, grounding techniques and meaningful human connection. Often people arrive feeling overwhelmed, and leave feeling calmer, supported and more in control.”
Practical tips for the season
If you’re finding the festive period difficult, these simple steps can help:
- Maintain regular sleep, meals and hydration for stability
- Set realistic expectations – avoid pressure to make everything ‘perfect’
- Plan for difficult times and build in breaks or calming activities
- Reach out early if you notice your mood dipping
- Stay connected – even small interactions like texts or calls can make a difference
- Use grounding techniques such as deep breathing or short walks
- It's okay to turn down commitments that feel too much
- Carers and families – look after your own wellbeing and have a crisis plan ready, including Safe Haven details and helplines.
Everyone experiences ups and downs at some point but poor mental health is not something that should be experienced alone. There are lots of self-help tips and advice on the NHS’s Every Mind Matters website. And there are also lots of ways to reach out in Derby and Derbyshire if you need someone to talk to – including drop-in centres, safe havens open every night of the week, and a 24/7 local helpline – and these are described in more detail below.
Services to support people with a mental health crisis include:
- Derby Safe Haven - call 0330 0083722 or drop in at 309 Burton Road, Derby, DE23 6AG (4:30pm to 12:30am)
- Chesterfield Safe Haven – call 01246 949410 or drop in 188 North Wingfield Road, Grassmoor, Chesterfield, S42 5EJ (4:30pm to 12:30am)
- Drop in services at Buxton, Ripley and Swadlincote – which are available on Friday evenings and at weekends and are run by Derbyshire Mind
- Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service – available 24 hours a day by dialling NHS 111 and choosing the “mental health” option. You can also contact the service via SignVideo if you are Deaf or hearing impaired - learn more on the helpline website, www.derbyshirehelpline.com
More information about these and other services can be found on the Derby and Derbyshire emotional health and wellbeing website: https://derbyandderbyshireemotionalhealthandwellbeing.uk/adult/getting-help-in-a-crisis
They are also listed on the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS website: https://www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/getting-help/help-mental-health-crisis.
Sam* - pseudonym used
