Everyday activities, help and support

Help and support

The information and services listed on this site can help you find out more about local activities and support that can help maintain positive mental wellbeing as part of your everyday life.

If you are worried about your mental health, or if someone in your life is affected, there are many ways to get help. The information below explains how to find out about specific services that deal with mental health problems.

Sussex Mental Healthline

The Mental Healthline is for anyone in West Sussex who has questions or concerns about a mental health related issue. It is available 24 hours seven days a week (including bank holidays) - call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. See the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust website for more infomation.

West Sussex Mind

West Sussex Mind is an independent local charity. They support people with their mental health, provide specialist training and campaign to improve services.

Pathfinder West Sussex

Pathfinder West Sussex provides the following services in West Sussex:

• A single point of access to mental health and wellbeing support.
• A range of services to support people with their mental health and wellbeing.
• Advice, information and sign-posting, including clear information about what support is available locally.
• Access to a clinical service provided by nurses and occupational therapists from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust who work alongside other Pathfinder agencies.

Sussex Recovery College

Sussex Recovery College offers educational courses about mental health and recovery which are designed to increase people's knowledge and skills and promote self-management.

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.

Other useful sources of support

• Your Mind Matters West Sussex
• Self harm resources on the e-wellbeing website
• Bereavement support - see our Bereavement and loss page
• Mental Health Foundation
• Self Injury Support - Helpline: 0808 800 8088 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 7pm – 9.30pm)  Text and email support service also available.
• The NHS Better Health - Every Mind Matters website is a good source of information and includes coping strategies to help deal with stress and anxiety, boost mood, improve sleep and help feel more in control. For top tips and tailored advice take the short Your Mind Plan quiz.
• The NHS website Moodzone section is a good source of information for mental health issues and includes useful coping strategies.
• Anna Freud Centre - On My Mind - a self-care resource with many simple self-care activities that can be done at home. Written by young people to help other young people who are feeling low or anxious.  The strategies should also be useful to adults.
• The West Sussex library service offer five national Reading Well Schemes that can help you understand and manage your health and wellbeing with helpful books. The books cover mental health topics for adults, young people and children. All titles within the booklists can be reserved free of charge.

Support for parents

• MindEd for Families - provides advice, information and training for parents and carers around  the mental health of children, young people and older adults.
• West Sussex Mind parenting peer support group 'circles' - for a parent referral email the Help Point or phone 0300 3035652 (Mon-Friday 10am until 4pm).

Self-harm support for parents and carers

• Self-harm prevention in the community - see the Your Voice West Sussex website
• Self-harm resources - see the e-wellbeing website
• West Sussex Mind free self-harm e-learning. To book a place, see the Eventbrite website
• A Young Minds self-harm guide for parents and carers - see the Young Minds website
• Young Minds parents’ helpline - see the Young Minds website.