Feeling unable to cope, worried you may hurt yourself or somebody else and/or experiencing suicidal feelings?
Non-urgent advice: 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 Crawley 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.
● 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 Crawley 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 one of our GPs.
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 Talking Therapies West Sussex: www.westsussextalkingtherapies.nhs.uk
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.
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.
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.
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.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-community/cost-of-living
● Help with housing : www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/housing
● Support for people affected by domestic abuse :www.safeinsussex.co.uk
● Drug and alcohol recovery support : www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-wellbeing-network-west-sussex
● Money worries and cost of living support : www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-community/cost-of-living
● Help with housing : www.westsussex.gov.uk/land-waste-and-housing/housing
● Support for people affected by domestic abuse :www.safeinsussex.co.uk
● Drug and alcohol recovery support : www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-wellbeing-network-west-sussex
Social Prescribing service at our 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 a GP, Nurse or a member of our Reception staff to refer you to our Social Prescribers.
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.
Pathfinder is an alliance of mental health support providers, covering seven areas in West Sussex – Littlehampton, Horsham, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Midhurst and Adur. Visit: www.pathfinderwestsussex.org.uk
If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty: www.carerssupport.org.uk and www.carerssupport.org.uk/mental-health
Pathfinder is an alliance of mental health support providers, covering seven areas in West Sussex – Littlehampton, Horsham, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Midhurst and Adur. Visit: www.pathfinderwestsussex.org.uk
If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty: www.carerssupport.org.uk and www.carerssupport.org.uk/mental-health
Distraction Techniques for thoughts of Self-Harm
Below are some strategies that sometimes help distract a person when they have thoughts of self harm.
. Pinging an elastic band
. Holding cold ice cubes against the skin
. Drawing on skin
. Tight or heavy clothing
. Being held tightly
. Rubbing on cream
. Chewing something with a strong taste
. Smelling something with a strong scent (lavender rolling ball bottle)
. Having a cool shower or bath
. Music (exploring different music styles)
. Recording of your voice offering words of reassurance
. Physical (rhythmic) movement
. Doing an activity using the hands
. Screaming into a pillow/silent screams of rage
. Punching a pillow or punch bag
. Writing it down and then screwing it up/burning it
. Writing poetry
. Drawing and creative expression
. Singing, dancing, acting
. Pinging an elastic band
. Holding cold ice cubes against the skin
. Drawing on skin
. Tight or heavy clothing
. Being held tightly
. Rubbing on cream
. Chewing something with a strong taste
. Smelling something with a strong scent (lavender rolling ball bottle)
. Having a cool shower or bath
. Music (exploring different music styles)
. Recording of your voice offering words of reassurance
. Physical (rhythmic) movement
. Doing an activity using the hands
. Screaming into a pillow/silent screams of rage
. Punching a pillow or punch bag
. Writing it down and then screwing it up/burning it
. Writing poetry
. Drawing and creative expression
. Singing, dancing, acting
Looking after your mental health
Staying at home and self-isolating for a prolonged period can be difficult, frustrating and lonely for some people and you or other household members may feel low.
It is important to take care of your mind as well as your body and get support if you need it. There are many sources of support and information:
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing
Supporting children and young people
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/yourmindmatters
Every Mind Matters provides some simple tips and advice on how to take better care of your mental health.
If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS psychological therapies (IAPT) services.
A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly without a referral.
Find an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT)
Help for those with suicidal thoughts – If you do feel suicidal or have significant concerns then please contact your GP or call 111. Other sources of help are provided in the link.
It is important to take care of your mind as well as your body and get support if you need it. There are many sources of support and information:
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing
Supporting children and young people
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/yourmindmatters
Every Mind Matters provides some simple tips and advice on how to take better care of your mental health.
If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS psychological therapies (IAPT) services.
A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly without a referral.
Find an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT)
Help for those with suicidal thoughts – If you do feel suicidal or have significant concerns then please contact your GP or call 111. Other sources of help are provided in the link.
Mid Sussex Wellbeing
Mid-Sussex Wellbeing are a great resource and can provide excellent information regarding advice and supports on how to make small changes for big differences to your health and well being. They can provide support with exercise, weight loss, wellbeing coaches, sociability and have access to a whole host of organisations accessing as a gateway to filter what may suit you best.
Please look at their website; you can self refer or discuss this with any of our clinical team:
https://midsussex.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-aspects-of-coronavirus-covid-19
Please look at their website; you can self refer or discuss this with any of our clinical team:
https://midsussex.westsussexwellbeing.org.uk
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-public-on-mental-health-and-wellbeing/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-mental-health-and-wellbeing-aspects-of-coronavirus-covid-19
Online psychological Self Help
Here are some self help links to websites that some patients find useful:
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/
https://moodgym.com.au/
Information for parents/carers
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
https://moodcafe.co.uk/
https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/
This is an Australian site that has some useful resources which may be helpful: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/
This is a recommended YouTube channel that says it in simple ways and isn’t trying to sell anything: https://www.youtube.com/user/getselfhelp/videos
Bereavment
https://www.cruse.org.uk/
Pain
https://painconcern.org.uk/
https://www.paintoolkit.org/resources/for-patients
Private Counselling
https://www.midsussexcounsellingcentre.org.uk
These are the names of some “apps” that you can put on your phone to support your mental health, some patients have found them useful, but make sure they are right for you:
Headspace
Stay Alive
Calm
https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/
http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/
https://moodgym.com.au/
Information for parents/carers
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing/
https://moodcafe.co.uk/
https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/
This is an Australian site that has some useful resources which may be helpful: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/
This is a recommended YouTube channel that says it in simple ways and isn’t trying to sell anything: https://www.youtube.com/user/getselfhelp/videos
Bereavment
https://www.cruse.org.uk/
Pain
https://painconcern.org.uk/
https://www.paintoolkit.org/resources/for-patients
Private Counselling
https://www.midsussexcounsellingcentre.org.uk
These are the names of some “apps” that you can put on your phone to support your mental health, some patients have found them useful, but make sure they are right for you:
Headspace
Stay Alive
Calm