East Sussex mental health directory
People in crisis and suicide prevention
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 support with your mental health in different ways depending on what you prefer. All services are free.
Phone 111 and chose 'mental health' (free phone 24/7)
If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis, the NHS 111 'mental health option' is there to offer support and get help if needed.
For callers whose first language is not English, a telephone interpreter can be arranged for other community languages, by phoning the helpline and letting them know the language needed.
During busy periods, you may need to wait for someone to answer your call.
Visit a Staying Well crisis café
Staying Well provides a support service for adults over 18 experiencing distress due to their mental health, during evenings and weekends when other support may be unavailable.
Phone 0800 023 6475 and choose option 1 for Eastbourne, or 2 for Hastings St Leonards, or use the Staying Well website for further information on opening times.
Text Shout Sussex service
By texting the word SUSSEX to 85258, you can access a free, confidential, 24/7 service and have a text conversation with a trained volunteer. The volunteers offer real-time support if you are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed, and can signpost to local services. You may prefer this to speaking on the phone.
Call the Samaritans
Phone 116 123 (24/7) or visit the Samaritans website.
Download the Stay Alive App
This is a suicide prevention resource full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
For urgent mental health support
Call 999 or go to A&E if you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one.
Two East Sussex hospitals have an A&E department.
- Conquest Hospital – The Ridge, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 7RD
- Eastbourne District General Hospital – Kings Drive, Eastbourne, BN21 2UD
For those living on the edge of the county:
- Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Rd, Brighton BN2 5BE
- Princess Royal Hospital, Lewes Rd, Haywards Heath RH16 4EX
Please consider whether your GP, other support services or the NHS 111 Mental Health option can help, before travelling to A&E.
If you have a care plan and crisis card from Sussex Partnership mental health services, these will include details of who you should contact in a crisis. If you can’t find your care plan, contact your community team during the day – 9am to 5pm – from Monday to Friday. Ask for your care coordinator or the person on duty.
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.
Further information on mental health services
Other suicide prevention services
Sussex Partnership NHS Trust Urgent Help Advice
- Website: Urgent help in a crisis
Preventing suicide in Sussex
Advice for people who may be at risk of suicide and their friends and family, on warning signs and how to seek help.
‘Warning Signs’ is a suicide prevention campaign targeting East Sussex, West Sussex and Brighton & Hove, specifically aiming to support the reduction of annual suicide amongst men in Sussex.
- Website: Warning Signs campaign
Grassroots Suicide Prevention
Work with communities, organisations, services and individuals to help them to become ready, willing and able to effectively support someone at risk of suicide.
Available in Brighton & Hove with advice for all.
- Email: office@prevent-suicide.org.uk
- Website: Grassroots Suicide Prevention
Support for Survivors of Suicide (SSOS)
For those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts or who have attempted suicide. Assessments and counselling services can be offered via phone or video call. Support is also provided if you have lost someone to suicide.
- Phone: 01273 519108
- Email: counselling@sussexcommunity.org.uk
- Website: Sussex Community Development Association – SSOS
Mankind
Mankind was set up in 2020 by Eastbourne friends to help support men who have mental health worries, or just need someone to talk to without judgement. Weekly groups in Eastbourne and Heathfield.
- Website: Mankind
RunningSpace
Based in Sidley Bexhill, but with other free running groups in Hastings Ore. RunningSpace promotes life and good mental health through small friendly groups. No running experience necessary, all faiths / no faith welcome.
- Website: RunningSpace
National services
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) App and helpline 0800 58 58 58 open 5pm to midnight
- Papyrus suicide prevention service for under 35s offering free confidential support, a 24/7 Hopeline 0800 068 4141, chat line and practical advice.
- Zero Suicide Alliance is committed to suicide prevention and offers free training and resources.
If you have been affected by suicide
National Support
Public Health England and the Suicide Prevention Alliance have produced Help is at Hand for people bereaved by suicide or other sudden, traumatic death.
Suicide&Co supports people bereaved by suicide, with a helpline run by bereavement counsellors.
- Suicide&Co helpline Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm: 0800 054 8400
- hub of resources
Sussex Bereaved by suicide support
Triage and support for anyone bereaved by suicide in Sussex, delivered by Cruse across Sussex.
- Phone: 07376 616628 (calls returned within 48 working hrs excluding Bank Holidays)
- Email: sussexbereavedbysuicide@cruse.org.uk
- Website: Cruse (other helpful information)
East Sussex Support for people bereaved by suicide
A service for people whose loved one has died as a result of suicide, offering practical and emotional support.
- Phone: 07542 305 419
- Website: Bereaved by Suicide Support
If you have been affected by witnessing a suicide
Firsthand is a new resource to support and advise people who are impacted by the suicide of someone they don't know.
- Website: Firsthand
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
Cost of living support | East Sussex County Council
- Help with housing
Housing | East Sussex County Council
- Support for people affected by domestic abuse
Domestic abuse | East Sussex County Council
- Drug and alcohol recovery support
Addiction services | East Sussex County Council
Social Prescribing service at your 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 your GP or GP surgery if they have a Social Prescribing service. Waiting times differ between GP surgeries.
