Feel better, not alone: SUN offers a new way through crisis

A quiet transformation is underway at South London and Maudsley NHS Trust - and it’s reshaping how people in emotional crisis find support. Instead of heading straight to hospital emergency departments, more and more people are choosing a different path: one grounded in empathy, peer support and human connection.

At the heart of this shift is the Service User Network (SUN) - a peer-led group that’s showing what crisis care can look like when it starts with community.

Lewisham SUN group members and staff

Holding space when it matters most

Fundamentally, the SUN Project is about rethinking how and where people access support during a mental health crisis. It offers a self-referral alternative to A&E for those experiencing suicidal thoughts or intense emotional distress - with no referral, diagnosis, or waiting list required.

SUN groups are designed to support people during a crisis - not after. Facilitators begin each session with the understanding that anyone walking through the door could be in acute distress, creating a culture of safety and compassion from the very start. People struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts are encouraged to come to a SUN group first - before going to A&E - unless the situation is life-threatening.

Power in shared experience

What makes SUN distinct is its commitment to being truly peer-led. Groups are co-facilitated by two trained staff, who act as guides rather than leaders, creating a structure that feels informal yet safe.

While facilitators offer support, it’s participants who shape the direction of each session, with staff stepping in only when needed. This balance is made possible through the care and thoughtful preparation that facilitators bring – along with their adaptability, responsiveness and deep emotional presence that help sustain and strengthen the peer-led nature of the group.

By embedding peer connection and shared responsibility into the structure of each session, SUN empowers participants to build their confidence and sense of ownership over the space.

Outcomes that speak for themselves

Groups consistently report high engagement and attendance, a strong sense of ownership and connection among participants, and tangible improvements in emotional wellbeing and social connection. Members report feeling less alone and more understood by coming.

Referrals to SUN have increased in recent months, particularly from primary care - highlighting growing recognition of the model within local mental health pathways.

Participants also routinely provide positive feedback after each group, including:

“The SUN project has a lot of strengths; it makes you realise that you are not alone, as everyone there has their own mental and physical problems. They will listen to you, not judge you, be supportive and make you feel very welcome. It’s a group that allows everyone to share when you feel ready to do so.”

“The best thing has been joining SUN group and meeting fantastic people for support. Improving my mental health and gaining full time employment after almost giving up multiple times.”

SUN facilitators witness this shift firsthand. “You can see people come in distressed and by the end of the session they’re laughing” says Team Lead for Croydon SUN, Trudi Carmichael.

In addition to finding peer support, many participants go on to access structured therapies like DBT or reconnect with their GP, often feeling more confident and clearer about what they need. Some have also moved into employment, building on the confidence and stability gained through the group.

Facilitators have also noted a strong culture of hope in the groups - where the goal isn’t to “fix” someone, but to simply help them feel a little more supported and less alone. Trudi explains, “It’s not about fixing people. It’s about holding space and helping someone feel even a little bit better by the time they leave.”

Furthermore, preliminary internal data from Lewisham SUN suggests a 55% reduction in occupied bed days in the year after individuals joined SUN - from 2,111 to 952. While the analysis is still ongoing, early indications point to a notable drop in inpatient care usage. The data is promising, and further analysis will help clarify the extent of SUN’s impact on that change.

A blueprint for the future of crisis care

Looking ahead, SUN’s priorities include securing long-term funding, expanding into underserved areas, and recruiting more facilitators with lived experience. The team also aims to share impact data and stories to support national replication, and to expand training so more clinicians recognise the value of peer-led, trauma-informed care.

There is growing national interest in the SUN model, with other NHS Trusts actively seeking guidance on how to implement similar approaches. “We’ve had teams from other parts of the UK attend our symposiums to learn from what we’re doing here,” says Team Lead at Southwark SUN, Rachel Johnson. The team hopes SUN can become a blueprint for wider systemic change in how crisis support is delivered across the NHS.

The power of feeling seen

By embracing community and drawing on the power of peer-led support, the project offers a pathway to connection and offers people an added layer of support that clinical pathways can’t always reach. This model of care honours lived experience and, crucially, empowers people to take an active role in their own recovery.

For people in crisis, SUN offers more than a meeting - it offers a moment of safety, understanding and hope. It’s a powerful reminder that help doesn’t always look clinical - sometimes it looks like being heard, just when you need it most, and feeling understood by people who’ve lived it too.

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