Getting help with your mental health
If you're struggling with your mental health or are concerned about someone else, here's how to get help. From the following options, please select the one that best describes how you are feeling.
- Feeling unable to cope, worried you may hurt yourself or somebody else and/or experiencing suicidal feelings?
- Feeling stressed, anxious, low or experiencing panic attacks?
- Experiencing a significant change in your mental health?
- Worried about money, housing or another issue that is affecting your mental health?
- Not sure? Find advice and information about local mental health support?
Feeling unable to cope, worried you may hurt yourself or somebody else and/or experiencing suicidal feelings?
For immediate help
-
If your life - or someone else's life - is in immediate danger, please call 999 or go to A&E.
For same or next day help
You can get support in different ways depending on what you prefer. All services are free.
-
Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option or the Samaritans on 116 123 (available 24/7).
-
Visit a Staying Well service (out-of-hours mental health crisis support service for people aged 18+ available in Brighton, Crawley, Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing).
-
Text the word SUSSEX to 85258 (24/7 mental health text-messaging support service).
-
Download the Stay Alive app - a suicide prevention resource full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
Feeling stressed, anxious, low or experiencing panic attacks?
The following are services that you can either contact directly (details below) or be referred by a GP.
NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression
If you live in Sussex, are over 18 and are struggling with common mental health problems like feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), you can refer yourself to your local NHS Talking Therapies service.
Services are free, confidential and provide a wide range of support, including courses, online programmes and one-to-one sessions. They aim to help you understand your symptoms and take practical steps to improve your mental health.
If you are experiencing a severe mental health disorder, please see a GP, who can refer you to the appropriate service.
Mental health support at your GP surgery
If you have a diagnosed mental illness or are having difficulties with your mental health and would like coping strategies to help, you can get support with your mental health from the Emotional Wellbeing Service, or similar service, at most GP surgeries. These services can provide you with information, advice, guidance and support.
Contact your GP surgery to find out what mental health support is available.
Experiencing a significant change in your mental health?
You should call NHS 111 or visit NHS 111 online for advice if you - or the person you are concerned about - experience a significant change in your mental health and are not already receiving care from mental health services.
This might include:
- Hearing or seeing things that are not experienced by other people, for example hearing voices
- Having strong beliefs that are not shared by others, for example believing there is a conspiracy against you
- Having excessive energy or movements, sleeping very little
- Behaving in a bizarre and out of character way
- Changes in behaviour like wanting to avoid people, lack of basic self-care.
Whilst these can be normal experiences, they can also be signs of something more serious.
Do you currently receive care from one of our services?
If you or the person you are concerned about currently receives care from one of our services, such as a community mental health team, please get in touch with the specialist team as soon as possible. You can refer to the care plan for advice. This will also contain contact details for the team supporting the person in crisis.
Worried about money, housing or another issue that is affecting your mental health?
There are lots of ways you can get practical help with issues that may be affecting your mental health.
If you live in Brighton & Hove
If you live in East Sussex
If you live in West Sussex
Social Prescribing service at your GP surgery
Social Prescribers can connect you to support, services and activities to help address the challenges and issues you may be struggling with. Ask your GP or GP surgery if they have a Social Prescribing service.
Waiting times differ between GP surgeries.
Where to find advice and information about local mental health support
Not sure what support you need or would like? There are several community-based groups that can support you with your mental health, whether you have a diagnosed mental illness or need short-term help or advice about your mental health. Find out what’s available in your area.
If you live in Brighton & Hove
- Call UOK on: 0808 196 1768 (9am - 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays) or you can arrange a call back by visiting www.
uok.org.uk/ talk-to-us/ - Visit: https:/
/ www. uok.org.uk/ - If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty
If you live in East Sussex
- Call UOK on: 0808 196 1768. (9am – 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays) or you can arrange a call back by visiting www.
uok.org.uk/ talk-to-us/ - Visit www.
uok.org.uk or the East Sussex Mental Health Directory - If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty
If you live in West Sussex
- Pathfinder is an alliance of mental health support providers, covering seven areas in West Sussex - Littlehampton, Horsham, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Midhurst and Adur.
- If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty