Mental health support at WellBN
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 us at WellBN. Contact us by filling out a Klinik Access form or by calling us to find out what mental health support is available.
Join the mental health team online for the daily drop in consultations 15:00-16:00 (every weekday)
A safe space to learn more about managing your mental health and coping with chaos! Register to attend here.
Social Prescribing service at WellBN
Social Prescribers can connect you to support, services and activities to help address the challenges and issues you may be struggling with.
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 the Staying Well service (out-of-hours mental health crisis support service for people aged 18+) in Brighton, Eastbourne, Hastings, Crawley, 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?
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, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), you can refer yourself to
NHS Talking Therapies Brighton & Hove
NHS Talking Therapies East Sussex
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 fill out a Klinik Access form or call the surgery so we 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.
Where to find advice and information about local mental health support
Community based groups
Not sure what support you need or would like? There are several communitybased 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
Visit the UOK website
If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty, visit The Carers Center
….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
Visit the UOK website or the East Sussex Mental Health Directory.
If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty: East Sussex Mental Health Directory for carers
….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:
www.carerssupport.org.uk and www.carerssupport.org.uk/mental-health
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
Money worries and cost of living support
Help with housing
Support for people affected by domestic abuse
Drug and alcohol recovery support
…if you live in East Sussex
Money worries and cost of living support
Help with housing
Support for people affected by domestic abuse
Drug and alcohol recovery support
…if you live in West Sussex
Money worries and cost of living support
Help with housing
Support for people affected by domestic abuse
Drug and alcohol recovery support
Info + help with fuel bills
Advice and support with eneregy bills (published Jan 2025)
Brighton & Hove – Help with fuel bills
LEAP | The Energy and Money Saving Service | Free Advice
Food, shopping, meal deliveries and essential supplies
Go to Brighton & Hove Food Partnership website for low-cost meals for takeaway or delivery and access to emergency food parcels.
Get support with food or medicine collection at the Ageing Well website or phone 07770 061072 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Helplines
24/7
Samaritans – 116 123
Sussex Mental Health Line – 0800 0309 500
Mental Health Rapid Response Service – 0300 304 0078
Emergency support
-For urgent medical help, phone NHS 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk
– support for adults at risk, phone Access Point 01273 295 555
– emergency support for child safeguarding concerns, phone 01273 335 905 or 01273 335 906
– 999
Out-of-hours crisis prevention service
Staying Well Service – Southdown
Therapy & Counselling
Free
Self-Referral B&H Wellbeing Service for free nhs counselling
Health In Mind FREE Talking Therapies and mental health support service in East Sussex. For people with mild to moderate Anxiety, Depression, Low Mood and Stress.
NHS info on Talking Therapies and Counselling
B&H Wellbeing Talking Therapies
Paid
Psychology Sussex is an independent practice of experienced clinical & counselling psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychological healthcare professionals providing a range of psychological services including assessment, treatment and evaluation for clinical, legal and occupational purposes based in Brighton & Hove
Brighton and Hove Therapy Hub visit to find a private therapsist within Brighton & Hove
As You Are Centre for counselling and group work for depression, stress and anxiety, bereavement, relationship difficulties. For people living in Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Southwick, Shoreham, Lancing and Worthing. They offer group work, couple or individual sessions – up to 24 weekly 50 minute sessions.) Individual counselling: sliding scale of £8 – £35 per session. Duo/couples counselling: between £16 – £40 per session. Groups: some groups are FREE for other there will be a small charge.
Phoenix Psychotherapy for individual and group therapy. Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy, Counselling, Person Centred therapy, Humanistic therapy, Gestalt therapy, Arts therapy, EMDR, Couples therapy, Therapy for children, Integrative Therapy and Transactional Analysis.
The Rock Clinic Association for affordable, Accessible Therap, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Counselling, Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy, EMDR, Psychodynamic Psychotherapy & Yoga Therapy
AAAC – trauma and abuse counselling in East Sussex
Feeling lonely
Contact NHS Volunteer Responders on 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week)
Domestic Abuse
Call the National Domestic Abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247. Available 24/7
Cancer
Horizon Macmillan Centre can offer therpaies, accupuncture etc for pain
Anger
Relationship Advice
Relate – relationship counselling
Information on Depersonalisation
Mind – Self-Help for Depersonalisation
Depersonalization, Derealization, and Panic Disorder
LGBT+:
The Clare Project – transgender support and social group
Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard
MindOut – MH charity for LGBTQIA community
Refugees:
Voices in Exile – supporting refugees, asylum seekers and those with no recourse to public funds
Alcohol overuse
Drinkline: 24/7 – 0800 917 8282
GOAL: www.thegoalgroup.co.uk Tel: 07977591291
Family Mental Health Support:
Holding Space – family mh support in East Sussex: Family Service Directory (B&H):
Bereavement:
Cruse: Tel no: 0808 808 1677
Bereavement Advice Centre: Tel no: 0800 634 9494
Sue Ryder Online Support
Intrusive Thoughts of Harming Children:
Stop it Now! Tel no: 0808 1000 900
Adult Health and Social Care:
A Band of Brothers – A national charity established by men committed to positive social change through personal development and community building. A band of Brothers supports young men in making a healthy transition to adult manhood and creates powerful mentoring networks that they can call upon in times of need.
Family Information Service B&H
Audio Hallucinations:
Homelessness
Antifreeze – Off The Fence
Legal Advice
Lawstop – Housing, Education, Community Care & Public Law
Benefits advice
Stalking
Telephone: 0808 802 0300
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4pm (except Wednesday 9:30am to 8pm)
Veritas Justice – stalking advocacy organisation
Domestic abuse
RISE: https://www.riseuk.org.uk/
Civil Order – apply for domestic violence protection order – this helps dv victims and families
IMatter (Victim Support): https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/more-us/why-choose-us/specialist-services/imatter/
Domestic Violence Parent’s Guide: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/a-z-guide/domestic-violence/
Beyond Abuse: Stonewall Housing (refuge): https://stonewallhousing.org/project/beyond-abuse-brighton/
Sexual assault/Sexual abuse
Survivor’s Network: https://survivorsnetwork.org.uk/get-help/
Male Survivor’s Network: https://survivorsnetwork.org.uk/get-help/male-survivors/
Substance use
Brighton and Hove Recovery Service: https://www.changegrowlive.org/brighton-hove-recovery-service/info
Oasis Project: https://www.oasisproject.org.uk/
Male
MenWalkTalk Charity: https://menwalktalk.co.uk/
Men in Sheds: https://www.fabrica.org.uk/sheds
CALM (Calm Against Living Miserably): https://www.thecalmzone.net/
Mankind: https://mkcharity.org/
Respect – Men’s Advice Line: https://mensadviceline.org.uk/
Survivors’ UK: https://www.survivorsuk.org/
Childhood Sexual Abuse Therapy
SafeLine: https://www.safeline.org.uk/ / (national male survivor helpline) 0808 800 5005
Female
Oasis Project – give hope to people affected by drugs and alcohol: https://www.oasisproject.org.uk/
Brighton Women’s Centre: https://womenscentre.org.uk/
Gateway Women’s Centre – Women’s Crisis Support (Off The Fence): https://www.offthefence.org.uk/gateway
Menopause MH Info: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/m/menopause
Self-Injury Support – offers helpline service for women of any age who self-harm, as well as text and email services for women under 24: www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk / phone: 0808 800 8088 (Monday – Thursday 7pm-10pm) / text: 07800 472908 (women and girls under 24 only – Sunday – Friday 7pm-9pm)
Bloom Café and Hope Centre: https://stpetersbrighton.org/safehaven/
Sex Workers
Oasis Project – give hope to people affected by drugs and alcohol: https://www.oasisproject.org.uk/
Terrence Higgins Trust: https://www.tht.org.uk/centres-and-services/brighton-and-hove
Carers
Carer’s Hub Brighton: https://carershub.co.uk/
Debt
Money Advice Plus: https://www.moneyadviceplus.org.uk/
Money Works: https://www.bht.org.uk/services/legal-advice/brighton-advice-centre/moneyworks/
ASD
Assert – supporting autistic adults: https://assertbh.org.uk/
ADHD
Psychiatry UK: https://psychiatry-uk.com/right-to-choose/ (Personally, I can refer to these people directly once the form has been completed and sent back to the surgery (Benfield), it’s a less longer waiting list than local neuro dept which is 2 years) *If I have sent this document to you, I don’t know what your surgeries policy on ADHD referral is, it might differ*
Work and Mental Health
Work and Wellbeing Sussex: https://www.southdown.org/work-and-wellbeing-sussex
HIV
Terrence Higgins Trust: https://www.tht.org.uk/centres-and-services/brighton-and-hove
Adult Children of Alcoholics or Dysfunctional Families
ACA UK: https://www.adultchildrenofalcoholics.co.uk/
Al-Anon UK: https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/
Mental Health and Criminal Justice System:
Mendods: https://www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/services/criminal-justice/mendos/
Sussex Prisoners’ Families: https://www.sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk/
Survivors of suicide
Survivors of Suicide (SOS): https://www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/services/community-support/survivors-of-suicide-sos-brighton-hove/
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide: https://uksobs.org/
Perinatal Mental Health
- Baby Loss:
The Lullaby Trust: www.lullabytrust.org.uk
SANDS : www.lullabytrust.org.uk
Tommys: www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support
www.childbereavementuk.org/when-your-baby-dies
You could email this lady if she is still working in this role, she may have more local knowledge:
Shelley Trigwell
Pregnancy Loss Lead Midwife
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Post-termination counselling:
Abortion & Vasectomy Counselling Services: https://www.msichoices.org.uk/other-services/counselling/
Harbour Counselling: https://www.harbourcounselling.org.uk/
- Miscarriage Support
Miscarriage Association: http://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Harbour Counselling (B&H): https://www.harbourcounselling.org.uk/contact
Pregnancy Loss – BSUH Maternity (B&H): https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/maternity/our-services/specialist-support/pregnancy-loss/
- Post Natal Depression
Pandas Foundation: recourse for women with post-natal depression, has helpline: https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/ / 0808 1961 776
- Therapies
Perinatal Treatment – giving free online information and therapies for new mums (and dads): https://perinataltreatment.wpcomstaging.com/
- Apps
Peanut – support app for mums: https://www.peanut-app.io/
Let’s Mush – peer support app for mums: https://letsmush.com/
- Support for mums with crying babies
Cry-Sis: (for parents when babies persistently cry) https://www.cry-sis.org.uk/ / 08451 228 669 – Lines open 7 days a week 9am-10pm
- Premature Babies
Birth Stories – BSUH Maternity: Birth Stories gives women, especially those who may have experienced their labour as traumatic, the opportunity to talk through any aspect of their experience. It provides a one to one session with your obstetric notes available. Partners are welcome to attend. https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/maternity/our-services/specialist-support/birth-stories/
Birth Trauma Association – https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/
Bliss – for babies born premature or sick: https://www.bliss.org.uk/
Perinatal Dads
Dad’s in Mind: https://www.dadsinmind.org/
Dad’s Matter: https://www.dadsmatteruk.org/
Boredrline Personality Disorders
BPD World – provides info and support for those affected by personality disorders: www.bpdworld.org
Time to Change – offers space for people to tell their own story: www.time-to-change.org.uk/category/blog/borderline-personality-disorder
Out of the Fog – offer information and support for family and loved ones of those who suffer with personality disorders: https://outofthefog.website/
Personality Disorders
The Lighthouse: https://www.communityroots.org.uk/services/lighthouse
Online self-help techniques, including CBT
Cumbria NHS Self-Help Leaflets
Every Mind Matters – NHS Sussex
Egg Shell Therapy: information Therapy on emotional intensity
Self Help
Videos with Coping Mechanisms
Symptoms found among CSA Survivors
3 Ways Trauma can change the Brain
Coping tools from our daily drop-in online group consultaions
Self-Help Anxiety Techniques
Mind – Info on Panic Attacks
Mind – Tips for Grounding
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Grounding Technique
Mind –Side by Side: Mind’s online community – It’s a powerful thing to connect with someone else over shared experiences. Side by Side is an online community where you can listen, share and be heard.
Self-Help Anxiety Apps:
Smiling Mind – free mindfulness advice
iBreathe – Breathwork for beginners
Shine (for POC)
MindShift (Young Adults, Late Teens)
Children / Young People
- Therapy:
The Young People’s Support Network
YMCA Dialogue Counselling Service
- LGBT+:
- Homelessness
- Family mediation:
- Refugees:
Refugee Charity UK – Hummingbird Project Brighton
- SEND:
Amaze – for families w/ disabled children and young people
- General Mental Health:
The Mix (under 25s)
- Crisis:
- Bereavement:
Jigsaw South East Tel: 01342 313895
- Sexual abuse:
Children and Young People’s Service – Survivors Network
- Living with a family member with substance use:
Oasis Project (support for people affected by drugs and alcohol)
Adult Children of Alcoholics or Dysfunctional Families
ACA UK: https://www.adultchildrenofalcoholics.co.uk/
Al-Anon UK: https://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/
Mental Health and Criminal Justice System:
Mendods: https://www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/services/criminal-justice/mendos/
Sussex Prisoners’ Families: https://www.sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk/
Suicide Prevention
Get Self Help for Suicidal Thoughts:
Holding Space – family mh support in East Sussex: Family Service Directory (B&H):
Intrusive Thoughts of Harming Children:
Stop it Now! Tel no: 0808 1000 900
Survivors of suicide
Survivors of Suicide (SOS): https://www.rethink.org/help-in-your-area/services/community-support/survivors-of-suicide-sos-brighton-hove/
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide: https://uksobs.org/
General
Gingerbread for Single Parents
KEYNOTE: Self-Harm – What? Why? Help! – Dr Pooky Knightsmith by Pooky Knightsmith
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