If you need help with your mental health

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 day 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
– Call the Samaritans on 116 123
– Visit the Staying Well Service in Crawley (for adults over 18)
– 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

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.

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.

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.

There are lots of ways you can get practical help with issues that may be affecting your mental health.

– West Sussex County Council has advice on money worries and the cost of living.
– They can also provide help with housing.
– Safe in Sussex provide support for people affected by domestic abuse.
– Change Grow Live provide support with drug and alcohol recovery.
– Carers Support West Sussex provide support for carers. If you care for someone who could not cope without your support because of illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, whether that’s a family member, partner or friend, then you are a carer.
– We can also refer you to a social prescriber. 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 if a referral would be right for you.

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 via Pathfinder.