March 2025

New research will explore the ‘Soteria’ approach as an alternative to psychiatric inpatient admission in the UK

Greater Manchester researchers have partnered with service users, carers, families, and community groups to explore an alternative approach to inpatient psychiatric admission – known as the ‘Soteria’ approach – for people experiencing extreme psychological states, often referred to as psychosis or mania.

The research study is an innovative partnership between people with lived experience of extreme states and inpatient admission, community groups, and academics. This research is jointly led by Dr Kate Allsopp, Research Fellow at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), and Rita Long, Service User Researcher and Chair of the Soteria Network UK, a community of service users, families, community groups and professionals with experience of psychiatric inpatient care.

Co-Chief Investigator Rita Long, who herself has experience of extreme states and hospital admission said:

“Psychosis and mania are considered to be severe mental health experiences which can include hearing voices, and believing things others struggle to manage and understand. The people having these experiences, their support networks, and communities, should be able to access compassionate personalised support and understanding when needed.

“Service users, carers, and health and social care professionals want to see change, fostering care that is service user-led, and within supportive, safe environments that encourage choice and hope.

“The Soteria community are delighted to have built trusted relationships with our GMMH colleagues and to be moving forward to achieve alternatives to inpatient care together.”

Almost 100,000 people are admitted to mental health inpatient services each year, and it is estimated that around 60% of psychiatric admissions are linked to psychosis and extreme states. When there are concerns about people’s safety or these experiences are very distressing, hospital admission may be considered. However, sometimes hospital admissions can be distressing, both for people being admitted as well as for their families and loved ones.

The Soteria approach supports people in distress, in ‘home’-like houses in the community, with an emphasis on acceptance, dignity, and choice, supported by people with lived experiences, where genuine community relationships become the healing and caring. There are many ‘Soteria Houses’ in health systems in several countries around the world, but there has never been one formally setup in the UK.

Co-Chief Investigator Dr Kate Allsopp said:

“We are excited to begin this piece of research, which has co-production at its heart, and will centre the voices of people from different communities who have lived experience of extreme states and inpatient admission.

“Compassionate alternatives to traditional inpatient wards are not only a priority for people using NHS mental health services, but they are also called for in key NHS policies, so we are looking forward to working towards innovative developments in the NHS and, crucially, continually improving the way our mental health services care for people at some of their most difficult times.”

This exciting new study, which is sponsored GMMH and co-led with Soteria Network UK and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will explore how UK Soteria Houses could be set up in the UK. To do this the study is establishing a community research team, running focus groups with people with lived experience of psychiatric hospital admission, family members, and representatives from mental health charities and voluntary organisations to explore their perspectives on existing inpatient care and the Soteria approach.

The researchers will also interview staff from Soteria houses around the world, as well as NHS professionals to understand the benefits, challenges and cost of setting up a Soteria House in the UK. The research aims in particular to involve the perspectives of people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities and from LGBTQIA+ communities in the research, to ensure their needs are considered in designs for future Soteria houses in the UK.

The findings from the work will be used to apply for further research grant funding to set up and trial a Soteria House in the UK. More information about the study is available to view here: https://tinyurl.com/gmmh-soteria-study.

Co-Chief Investigators: Dr Kate Allsopp (pictured left), Research Fellow at the Complex Trauma and Resilience Research Unit (C-TRU) at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) · Rita Long, (pictured right) Service User Researcher and Chair of the Soteria Network UK