Mental Health
Our Mental Health Support Coordinators will provide you with time to talk about a mental health problem or emotional distress, including grounding strategies and ways to reduce stress.
They will be able to support people to identify what their presenting mental health need is, to offer signposting to other support available in the city. In addition, they may be able to support with referring to other services if time allows, i.e. the Wellbeing Service. They are also able to refer to the PCN Mental Health team or any other teams in the PCN.
On the other hand, they can’t write supporting letters, provide sick notes, advise on support for anyone under the age of 18, provide crisis management support, advise on medication or book GP appointments.
Mental Health Signposting
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 help with your mental health in different ways depending on what you
prefer. All services are free.
● Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option (also known as the
Sussex Mental Healthline) or the Samaritans on 116 123 (both available
24/7)
● Visit a Staying Well service (out-of-hours mental health crisis support
service for people aged 18+ available in Brighton)
● 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 such as feelings of depression, excessive worry, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), you
can refer yourself to your NHS Brighton & Hove Talking
Therapies: www.brightonandhovewellbeing.org
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.
NHS Talking Therapies is unable to provide urgent mental health help or support
to people experiencing more severe difficulties with their mental health. Instead,
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.
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.
● Money worries and cost of living support
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/cost-living-support
● Help with housing
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/housing
● Support for people affected by domestic abuse
www.safeinsussex.co.uk
● Drug and alcohol recovery support
www.changegrowlive.org/brighton-hove
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.
● Call UOK Brighton & Hove on: 0808 196 1768. Lines are open Monday –
Friday 9am - 5pm (excluding bank holidays) or you can arrange a call back
by visiting www.uok.org.uk/talk-to-us
● Visit: www.uok.org.uk
● If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty:
www.thecarerscentre.org