Health and specialist services

Mental Health Services

Where to start

Talk to your GP (doctor)

GPs will support most people with mental health needs or refer people to mental health services. If you're unsure what to discuss with your GP, you can use Doc Ready to prepare for your visit.

You can find your nearest GP surgery through the NHS website.

Urgent mental health support

If you need an emergency service, such as an ambulance, please dial 999.

Reaching out for support via telephone: If you are 18 and over and need urgent mental health support, dial 111. Select the mental health crisis option. You can contact them 24 hours a day.

In person: You can go in person to Basildon Hospital, which has a Mental Health Urgent Care Department. It offers an alternative to the Emergency Department for those:

  • aged 18 and over
  • with urgent mental health needs
  • in crisis

It provides a calm and therapeutic environment as well as rapid access to a team of mental health specialists. You can contact them 24 hours a day.

Further information: Mental Health Urgent Care Department

You can also present to Southend Hospital Accident & Emergency Department 24 hours a day.

Help for suicidal thoughts

If you are feeling like you want to die, it is important to tell someone.

Help and support is available right now if you need it. You do not have to struggle with difficult feelings alone.

Anyone in need can dial NHS 111 and select option 2 for mental health crisis. You will be connected to the contact centre where trained staff will provide appropriate support and advice 24 hours a days/365 day of the year.

Is your life in danger?

If you are thinking about suicide and feel that your life may be in immediate danger, or have already taken steps to end your life, we would advise you to call the emergency services immediately.

If you have seriously harmed yourself or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to hospital accident and emergency services.

Call 999 from any phone. Try to be as clear as you can about where you are, your name and description and any details of injuries you may have or steps you might have taken.

Also be as open as you can about your thoughts of suicide.

Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to accident and emergency services.

Remember, if a life is in danger, it is an emergency.

Do not be scared: it is the right thing to do. You must get help, and you will not be in trouble.

Many people worry that they will be wasting people's time if they go to hospital or that accident and emergency services is only for physical injuries.

We want to reassure you that this is not the case and that most accident and emergency services will have mental health professionals working alongside them who can support you.

The people there can then assess you to see what support you might need moving forward and they can help to keep you safe in the meantime.

If you do not feel able to or confident doing either of these then we advise reaching out to someone you trust who can help you access this help.

Are you worried that someone else may be about to kill themselves?

If it is safe to do so, tell the person that you would like to get them medical help now.

Stay with them, and, depending on what you feel able to do, either:

  • call their GP surgery, or
  • call 999, or
  • call 111 and select the option for mental health crisis, or
  • take them to accident and emergency services and stay with them until a member of the mental health team sees them

Are you having suicidal thoughts and would like help and support?

If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide or in crisis, help and support is available:

Adults

If you, a family member or friend are in crisis and need help, please dial 111 for NHS111 Mental Health and select the option for mental health crisis (option 2).

You will be connected to the contact centre where trained staff will provide appropriate support and advice 24 hours a day/365 days of the year.

Under 18s

If you are under the age of 18 or are the family member of someone under the age of 18 who is in crisis, please call North East London NHS Foundation Trust’s Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Services (SET CAMHS)

0800 953 0222 or emailSET-CAMHS.referrals@nelft.nhs.uk

If you need urgent help or out-of-house help for someone under the age of 18, call 0300 555 1201.

For non-urgent community based mental health support

Trust Links

Trust Links provide community-based support for people with mental health problems in Southend.

The Wellbeing Hub and the partner Recovery College provide

  • 1:1 advice, guidance and support
  • groups
  • activities
  • courses
  • peer support
  • access to specialist support

Trust Links also offers:

  • counselling and support to carers
  • therapeutic gardening for adults
  • support for children and young people

To speak to Trust Links please call 01702 213134.

REACH Wellbeing Hub and Recovery College

Every Mind Matters

The Samaritans

The Samaritans provide support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They can help if you:

  • are finding it hard to cope
  • are worried about someone else
  • are feeling suicidal or want to harm yourself

To speak to The Samaritans please call 116 123.

Reach Out for Mental Health

Reach Out for Mental Health is a free phone-based service. You can talk in confidence, with a friendly, trained local person.

The service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm. It is for adults living in Southend, Essex, and Thurrock.

Call or text Reach Out for Mental Health on 07308 069 609 or email info@reachoutfmh.co.uk

Therapy for You

Therapy for You provide talking therapy in Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.

You can self-refer, or your GP can refer you for help with:

  • depression
  • anxiety
  • bereavement
  • trauma

South East Essex Mind

South East Essex Mind provide:

  • counselling
  • video counselling
  • an "appropriate adult's service"
  • a housing support service

Supporting people with:

  • mental health issues
  • learning disabilities
  • people who have been arrested

To speak to South East Essex Mind please call 01702 601123.

Age Concern Southend

Age Concern Southend run a befriending service.

For more information on this service please call 01702 345373 or email enquiry@acsos.co.uk.

Sanctuary by Sea

NHS 111 may refer you to Sanctuary by Sea which is an out of hours crisis service in Southend. You can go along for a chat and to get support and advice.

EPUT

EPUT have specialist mental health services for the residents of Southend.

To speak to EPUT please call 0300 123 08 08.

Digital/Online support

  • The Calm Zone is a charity preventing male suicide.
  • Anxiety Society is a local peer support group. It is for people suffering with anxiety and low mood.
  • WYSA APP is a chat tool with over 100 self-care resources. There is a payable option to access psychology sessions and support.
  • NHS inform has information about identifying, treating and managing mental health problems.
  • Beacon House provide a range of free resources.

Here is some information on post natal depression, PTSD,suicide, supporting people at end of life,dementia and memory loss,pain management and painkillers.

The NHS has a list of mental health helplines if you would like to talk to someone.

Mental health support in Southend

Livewell is our directory of local groups and organisations where you can find further information on topics including:

Emotional Wellbeing Gateway

The Emotional Wellbeing Gateway provides online support to families, teachers and professionals who are worried about a child or young person’s emotional wellbeing. The website includes:

  • information and resources about contacting mental health services and how to make an online referral to the Emotional Wellbeing Hub
  • practical information, advice and guidance pages on common mental health issues in children and young people, such as anxiety, stress, depression, eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal thoughts
  • a directory of local organisations, charities, and emotional wellbeing support groups

Visit: www.emotionalwellbeinggateway.org.uk

Mental Health Support for teenagers and young adults

For information on mental health services and support available to help young people, please refer them to The Source website: www.thesource.me.uk/wellbeing

Phone a helpline

These free helplines are there to help when you are feeling down or desperate, and unless it says otherwise, they are open 24 hours a day, every day.

You can also call these helplines for advice if you are worried about someone else.

Samaritans - for everyone

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)

Papyrus - for people under 35

Childline - for children and young people under 19

SOS Silence of Suicide - for everyone

Reach Out for Mental Health - a free phone-based service which offers an opportunity for people to just talk about what they are going through.

  • Reach Out for Mental Health
  • The service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm to any adult living in Southend, Essex, and Thurrock. It offers an opportunity to talk in confidence, with a friendly trained local person.
  • Call or text to 07308 069 609
  • Email to info@reachoutfmh.co.uk

Message a text line

If you do not want to talk to someone over the phone, these text lines are open 24 hours a day, every day.

Shout Crisis Text Line - for everyone

Young Minds Crisis Messenger - - for people under 19

Talk to someone you trust

Let family or friends know what is going on for you. They may be able to offer support and help keep you safe.

There is no right or wrong way to talk about suicidal feelings - starting the conversation is what is important.

Who else you can talk to?

If you find it difficult to talk to someone you know, you could:

  • call a GP - ask for an emergency appointment
  • call 111 out of hours - they will help you find the support and help you need
  • contact your mental health crisis team - if you have one

Stay Alive app

This app is a pocket suicide prevention resource, packed full of useful information to help you stay safe. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide.

In addition to the resources, the app includes a safety plan, customisable reasons for living, and a life box where you can store photos that are important to you.

See the Prevent Suicide website for more details.

Other useful websites

www.supportaftersuicide.org.uk (practical and emotional support for people bereaved and affected by suicide)

Mental Health Foundation

Mind (National)

South East and Central Essex Mind

Preventing suicides in Essex, Southend and Thurrock

#letstalkaboutsuicideessex is a suicide prevention campaign for Essex Thurrock and Southend. No single organisation can do this alone so the NHS, local councils and other health and care organisations across mid and south Essex are all behind this campaign that seeks to reduce the stigma around talking about suicide and raise awareness of suicide prevention training.

The free suicide prevention e-learning training is accessible to all, and the aims of this training are to:

  • enable people to identify when someone is presenting with suicidal thoughts or behaviour
  • to be able to speak out in a supportive manner
  • to empower them to signpost the individual to the correct services or support

For further information please go to www.letstalkaboutsuicideessex.co.uk.

Specialist Suicide Bereavement Service

The service provides emotional and practical support for anyone who has felt the impact of suicide at any time.

The service offers:

  • practical one-to-one emotional support, information and guidance
  • help when engaging with Police and other agencies
  • support with the inquest explaining the judicial process and attendance at the inquest
  • assistance with any media enquiries
  • referrals and signposting to other services as required
  • support to bereaved children and young adults, and their parents or guardians
  • help overcoming any feelings of isolation

Please note this is not a counselling service.

You can contact the Essex Wellbeing Service to request an assessment to support your needs, this may include a referral to a specialist suicide bereavement service.

The specialist service is for residents who are:

  • affected by a recent or historical bereavement
  • adults and young people aged 11 upwards
  • children aged between 4 and 11 can access the service, with an agreed appropriate adult, after an initial assessment

Service availability

Access the service by contacting the Essex Wellbeing Service.

The service is available on Monday and Friday 8am to 7pm, and Saturdays 9am to 12pm.

If a referral has been made by the Essex Wellbeing Service to the specialist service, you will be contacted within 48 hours.

For more information please contact the Essex Wellbeing Service:

Tel: 0300 303 9988

Email: provide.essexwellbeing@nhs.net

Website: Essex Wellbeing Service