Mental health services and support
If you are concerned about someone who may harm themselves, please see our crisis and suicide prevention page.
If you are showing signs of mental ill-health which are not improving with self-help interventions, the first thing you should do is speak with your GP, or if you have one, your Lead Practitioner in your NHS Community Mental Health team.
If your poor mental health is linked with financial concerns, please see our mental health and money worries page.
Mental health issues are common and treatable. The sooner you seek help, the better. Please also check out the support available both locally and nationally.
Sussex Mental Healthline
You can call this helpline for care and advice (24 hours, 7 days a week, for all ages) to discuss concerns you have for the mental health of yourself or someone else.
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.
- Phone: 0800 0309 500 (free phone)
- Website Sussex Mental Healthline
Shout Sussex text service
By texting the word SUSSEX to 85258, people of any age can access a free, confidential, 24/7 service and have a text conversation with a trained volunteer. The volunteers offer real-time support to people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed. Some people may prefer this to speaking on the phone. If appropriate, users will be signposted to other local services.
Health in Mind
A free NHS service for East Sussex residents who are experiencing stress, anxiety or low mood. You can self-refer through the website, and also find videos, top tips and free online therapy programmes. The service is offered via the phone or online via a secure video platform, with limited face-to-face treatment.
Once a referral has been received, the team will talk to you about what can be offered based on your needs.
- Phone: 0300 003 0130
- Email: spnt.healthinmind@nhs.net
- Website: Health in Mind
- Mental health support for refugees and asylum seekers
East Sussex Mental Health Support Services
Community mental health support services are offered by local organisations in partnership with the Council and NHS Sussex. These are free and for any adults living in East Sussex who are living with mental health challenges.
Wellbeing centres
Seven Wellbeing Centres in East Sussex provide a range of community-based mental health and wellbeing support to help you to get well, stay well and prevent crisis. The centres are in Hastings and St Leonards, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Hailsham, Lewes, Uckfield and Crowborough.
Support for mental health and wellbeing is offered through a support plan developed with each client (age 16 plus).
- Phone: 01323 405334
- Email: ESCN@southdown.org
- Website: Southdown Wellbeing Centres
Peer Support Service
People who have their own lived experience of mental health challenges will support you to take control of your mental health and stay well. Peer Specialists work with clients to develop Wellness Plans, identifying strategies and tools to help manage recovery and prevent crisis.
- Phone: 01323 405334
- Email: PeerServiceESussex@southdown.org
Staying Well Space
Out-of-hours ‘crisis cafe’ support available 7 evenings a week for adults (aged 16+) experiencing acute distress due to their mental health. The service has venues in St Leonards and Eastbourne, with phone support for those who can’t visit in person.
People supported by Staying Well are generally experiencing distress related to a mental health condition. They are not considered at imminent risk of suicidal or self-injury, or to pose an imminent risk of harm to others.
- Phone: 0800 023 6475 for queries or to discuss a referral
- Email: StayingWell@southdown.org
- Website: Southdown Staying Well Space
Thinking Well
Specialist day support for adults living in East Sussex who have Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) and who may have received a diagnosis of personality disorder.
- Phone: 01323 405334
- Email: thinkingwell@southdown.org
- Website: Southdown Thinking Well
The service made a film for people with the diagnosis and family, friends, and practitioners and this short animation may also be helpful.
Access local services to improve your mental wellbeing
Community Connectors
When everyday life is affecting your mental health and wellbeing, we work in partnership with GPs to help you access local services and activities that can help. Community Navigators support people to improve their own health and wellbeing by developing personalised and practical solutions to everyday issues, using a Social Prescribing pathway.
- Phone: 01323 340151
- Email: Social.prescribing@nhs.net
- Website: Southdown Community Connectors
Local wellbeing project in Eastbourne and Hastings
Wellbeing in Hastings and Eastbourne is a project that promotes the emotional and mental wellbeing of communities within Hastings and Eastbourne.
- Website: Mind B&H East Sussex services
Outdoor wellbeing group at Seven Sisters
This 8 week supportive Growing New Roots project is for people who would benefit from time spend in nature due to their mental health. For further details please see the website.
Information from our Mental Health Trust
The Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT) supports people with more serious mental health difficulties. You can find further information and an A-Z of conditions on their webpages.
- Website: SPFT
Adult Social Care
Contact Adult Social Care if you or someone you know needs social care support.
Low cost or free counselling services
Sussex Community Counselling
Low-cost counselling by a BACP-accredited service offered in Newhaven, Lewes, Hailsham and Eastbourne, or by phone or video call.
- Phone: 01273 519 108
- Email: counselling@sussexcommunity.org.uk
- Website: Sussex Community Counselling
Counselling Plus Community
A charity which offers confidential affordable counselling to people aged 16+. Available face to face in Hastings, Bexhill and Rye and also remotely through phone, Zoom or Skype.
- Phone: 01424 428 300
- Email: admin@counsellingplus.org
- Website: Counselling Plus Community
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
Qwell digital wellbeing support
A national service for adults in the UK, offering free counselling, chat, peer groups and personal development tools.
- Website: Qwell
Breakeven counselling
Breakeven offer free counselling for people with gambling-related issues, either face to face or via video call or phone, with offices in Eastbourne and St Leonards.
- Phone: 01273 833722
- Email: info@breakeven.org.uk
- Website: Breakeven
The Pelham Counselling service
A charity in Bexhill offering affordable counselling to people aged 11+ in person or over the phone or Zoom.
- Phone: 07907 403663
- Email: counselling@the pelham.co.uk
- Website: The Pelham Counselling Service
Counselling directory (may not be low cost)
Neurodiversity
Neurodiverse conditions such as autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not mental health conditions. However, for some people their neurodiversity is linked with their poor mental health. Sources of possible support are below:
- Autism support in East Sussex
- National Autistic Society mental health advice
- Mind: Autism and mental health
- ADHD Aware
Mental health support for people in minority groups
The Links Project
A multi-agency support and advice project for asylum seekers, refugees and new migrant communities living in East Sussex.
- Contact Marc Turczanski (Project Coordinator) on 01424 444 010, 07752 495 508 or marc@hastingsvoluntaryaction.org.uk.
- Website: The Links Project
Bad Nerves, Mental Health
Friends Families and Travellers (FFT) provides confidential and private mental health support for Gypsies and Travellers.
- Phone: 01273 234 777 for the Sussex area helpline
- Website: Bad Nerves, Mental Health
Seaview
Seaview is an open access wellbeing centre in St Leonards. It helps to improve the lives of people who are marginalised for a variety of reasons, and who often have mental health difficulties. Open 7 days a week over the winter.
- Phone: 01424 717 981
- Email: admin@seaviewproject.org.uk
- Website: Seaview
LGBTQ+ support
MindOut
MindOut is a mental health service run by and for lesbian, gay bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) people, with lots of advice and guidance. Projects are now running in East Sussex.
- Website: MindOut
Switchboard
Switchboard B&H is a Brighton-based charity with an LGBTQ helpline for people living in East Sussex.
- Helpline: 01273 204050 (7.00pm to 9.30pm on Mon to Thu)
- Website: Switchboard B&H
- National Switchboard helpline: 0300 330 0630 (10am to 10pm daily)
Allsorts Youth Project
Listens to, connects and supports children and young people who are LGBT+ or exploring their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and their families. Allsorts now has activities running in Eastbourne and Hastings and online groups in East Sussex.
- Website: Allsorts Youth Project
- Phone: 01273 721100
- Email: info@allsortsyouth.org.uk
The Clare Project
Provides a variety of support options for the trans, non-binary and intersex community in Brighton and East Sussex.
- website: The Clare Project
LGBTQ directory
This directory of free support (Sussex and UK wide) lists the local support and social groups run by and for people who identify as LGBTQ, or who are unsure or questioning their gender and/or sexuality.
- Website: LGBTQ directory
East Sussex Community Information Service
Search ESCIS for both adult and youth LGBTQ+ support groups and organisations.
Mental health support for young people
I-Rock
Young people in East Sussex (aged 14 to 25 years) can access advice and support on emotional and mental wellbeing. The service is open daily from 11am to 6pm through video link, phone or email.
There are some face to face appointments available at i-Rock sites in Hastings, Eastbourne and Newhaven.
- Email: irockeastsussex@gmail.com
- Website: i-Rock
E-wellbeing
A digital wellbeing service to support 13–25 year olds in Sussex with their mental health, designed by young people, for young people. The website provides self-help information, handy toolkits and a directory of local services.
- Website: e-wellbeing
E-motion
Free online counselling service for 12–18 year olds in East Sussex. It is not a crisis or emergency service, but can allow you to talk about your problems and feelings in a safe supportive and private space. Visit the website to register.
- Website: e-motion
Sussex CAMHS
Support with emotional and mental wellbeing, for children, young people and their parents or carers. Their website has lots of information, resources and short films about common problems.
- Website: Sussex CAMHS
The Mix
National support for young people under 25, with an online community and a helpline, free counselling services and other support.
- Website: The Mix
- Helpline: 0808 8084994 (Mon-Fri 4pm-11pm, freephone)
YoungMinds
For support and information on services for children and young people up to 25, and their parents and carers.
- For children and young people: Find help
- For parents: Supporting your child
- Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm. Free for mobiles and landlines)
Support for eating disorders
People of any age or gender can develop eating disorders, and it's best to get help as soon as possible. The first place to go is your GP, who should refer you for further assessment or treatment by a specialist eating disorder service.
- Website: Sussex NHS Eating Disorder services
You can also talk to an advisor with Beat, the UK's leading eating disorder charity, and find information and resources.
- Website: Beat
Holding Space (Eastbourne)
A small charitable organisation which support families going through mental ill health. It offers free, friendly online support sessions for parents and carers, as well as phone support.
- Website: Holding Space
FSN (St Leonards and Bexhill)
FSN aims to provide effective and professional caring action without discrimination and favour for children and young people suffering the effects of poverty, disadvantage, neglect and abuse, with a number of projects.
Website: FSN
Support for new parents
New parents can experience an impact on their mental health during pregnancy and beyond, if you are worried you should speak with your GP or midwife as specialist help is available.
Parents in Mind can also support women and partners experiencing emotional health difficulties in pregnancy and within the first two years after birth.
- website: Parents in Mind
Support with employment
Free skills and employability support
An online brochure full of the latest information on free to access skills, employment and other support, arranged by area.
Southdown Individual Placement and Support
Offer one-to-one support to gain and retain employment, self-employment, voluntary work and education. For adults (aged 18 years +) living in East Sussex who are using a mental health service.
Available across East Sussex
- Website: Southdown Employment Support
Work in Mind
One-to-one support to find and retain employment, self-employment, voluntary work and education for adults (aged 18 years +). Referrals are accepted direct from Health in Mind teams only.
Available across East Sussex
- Website: Southdown Work in Mind
Education for learning and recovery
Sussex Recovery College
Free educational courses about mental health and recovery which are designed to increase your knowledge, skills and promote self-management.
Face to face courses are available in Hastings, Eastbourne and Lewes, with many other courses delivered online. Open to people with a moderate to severe mental health challenge, their family and close friends, or people who work to support them.
- Phone: 0300 303 8086
- Email: SussexRecoveryCollege@spft.nhs.uk
- Website: Sussex Recovery College
Additional free online courses can also be accessed at Recovery College Online.
Adult Community Learning
East Sussex College offers activities and learning experiences which can be tailored to support people age 19+ with mild to moderate mental health issues. Normally available in Eastbourne, Lewes and Newhaven, limited courses are currently being delivered by video tutorials. Please contact the college to find out more and see what’s on offer.
- Phone: 0303 003 8212
- Email: Community.Info@sussexdowns.ac.uk
- Website: Adult Community Learning
Sussex Discovery College
The Discovery College is a community of children and young people up to 21 years and their families and supporters. They offer a range of free courses online and in different venues, which are fun and informative and support people to deal with mental health challenges.
- Website: Sussex Discovery College
Service user involvement and advocacy
Mental Health Lived Experience Advisory Group
If you or someone you care for has used mental health services, you may want to use your experiences to help shape future developments.
- Website: Mental Health Lived Experience
- Email: inclusion@possabilitypeople.org.uk
- Phone: Ricky at Possability People 07795905740
POhWER
Information and advocacy services for people who need support because of problems with their mental health.
Available across East Sussex.
- Phone: 0300 456 2370
- Email: pohwer@pohwer.net
- Facebook page: Facebook POhWER
- Website: POhWER
Information, advice and campaigning
Rethink Mental Illness
Rethink improve the lives of people with diagnosed mental illness with expert information and successful campaigning. The advice and information service is open from 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
- Advice line: 0300 5000 927
- Web form: Contact Rethink
- Website: Rethink
Bereavement support
East Sussex 1Space directory lists local and national support:
If you have been bereaved by suicide
Public Health England and the Zero Suicide Alliance have produced Help is at Hand for people bereaved by suicide or other sudden, traumatic death.
East Sussex Support for people bereaved by suicide
A new service for people whose loved one has died as a result of suicide, offering practical and emotional support.
- Phone: 01273 519108
- Email:
- Website: Bereaved by Suicide Support
Related information
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