"Crisis calls not being answered"

Between the hours of 1.30am and 9.30am I have called the crisis team many times 

None of my calls have been answered which has become the norm but is not acceptable

There is an answerphone where you can leave a message but often when you are in a ‘crisis’ you are too distressed to leave a message and are using the service appropriately. When you have calmed down enough to leave a comprehensible message often the crisis is over but the lack of earlier response has meant that you have put yourself at risk or like myself today have used harmful coping strategies 

I know that there are other crisis teams in the country that prioritise answering calls and keep a record of who has called regardless of whether they leave a message or not 

How can this be acceptable for a service that is supposed to be responding to a mental health crisis? I know that if I call and don’t leave a message I will not get any response or support but am often too distressed to give my name, date of birth, the service I am open to and my phone number

Asking for that detail just feels overwhelming at times of distress 

The fact that most calls are not being answered is not good enough. It is not just during the night but I have experienced this at other times too and it is putting people who are genuinely needing to use the service in line with their agreed crisis plan at risk

I understand that services have seen an increase in demand but surely staffing needs to be put in place to respond to that level of need?

So right now I have been in need of support in order for me to stay safe and to deal with the consequences of my mental distress during the night. I probably won’t get that support until I phone a service that will answer the phone tomorrow morning

How are crisis services going to be improved to ensure that calls are answered and the people that call get the response that they need regardless of whether they are able to leave a message or not?