Mental Health
Unable to cope? Suicidal thoughts?
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.
Experiencing significant changes 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.
Feeling stressed, anxious, low or experiencing panic attacks?
Visit NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression.
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.
Money or domestic worries?
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. Below are some links that we hope you will find useful.
- Money worries and cost of living support
- Help with housing
- Support for people affected by domestic abuse
- Drug and alcohol recovery support
Social Prescribing Service
Social Prescribers can connect you to support, services and activities to help address the challenges and issues you may be struggling with.
We have a Social Prescriber service available to us in Selsey.
You can be referred by your GP, but it is also possible to refer yourself using an online form.
Where to find advice and information about local mental health support
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.
- Pathfinder is an alliance of mental health support providers, covering seven areas in West Sussex – Littlehampton, Horsham, Worthing, Crawley, Chichester, Midhurst and Adur.
Visit: Pathfinders West Sussex
- If you are a carer for someone with a mental health difficulty
Visit: Carers Support
- For emotional wellbeing and mental health support for children and young adults visit
Young Minds
If you are a young person and you are struggling with your thoughts and feelings, or feeling distress or anxiety or low mood, this really supportive service is available for you.
Young Minds offers urgent help, support, advice, and guidance, which is focused on the needs of young people.
Websitee-Wellbeing
If you are a young person and you are experiencing sad, anxious, stressed or low in mood, you might find e-wellbeing a good place to find help.
Website