Information and support about mental health conditions.
Urgent mental health care
If you are having thoughts of suicide, are harming yourself or have thought about self-harm, it’s important to tell someone.
These thoughts and feelings can be complex, frightening and confusing, but you do not have to struggle alone.
If you cannot wait to see a doctor and feel unable to cope or keep yourself safe, contact one of the organisations below to get support right away.
NHS 111 option 2: crisis line
The 24-hour service, launched by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), offers immediate and specialist support to adults experiencing mental health crisis.
Anyone in need can dial 111 at any time and select the option for mental health crisis (option 2). Callers will be connected to trained staff at EPUT who can provide timely and appropriate support and advice.
The service is for people aged 18 and over and aims to ensure those in need of support can access it quickly when they need it most.
Mental Health Urgent Care Department
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Mental Health Urgent Care Department offers assessment and support in a safe, calm and comfortable environment to anyone aged 18 or above in mid and south Essex who is experiencing a mental health crisis.
The Mental Health Urgent Care Department is based at Basildon Hospital, SS16 5NL. It takes a few minutes to walk from the main multi-story car park.
Website
EPUT Mental Health Urgent Care Department
Samaritans
When life is tough, Samaritans are here to listen at any time of the day or night. You can talk to them about anything that’s troubling you, no matter how difficult,.
Phone
116 123
Crisis support for young people
Southend, Essex & Thurrock Children’s & Adolescent Mental Health Services (SET CAMHS)
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)
Telephone
0800 953 0222
If you need urgent help or out of hours help please call Mental Health Direct 0800 995 1000.
Papyrus
If you’re under 35 and feel that life is not worth living any more, call Papyrus’s HopelineUK from 9am to 10pm weekdays and 2pm to 10pm on weekends.
HopelineUK
0800 068 41 41
Text
07860 039967
Childline
If you’re under 19, you can also speak to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Phone
0800 1111
Get your mind plan
Your mind plan helps you build a practical plan you can use to help maintain and improve your mental health and wellbeing. By answering this short quiz, the Every mind matters widget gives you five actions that can help you feel more in control, deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood and improve your sleep.
NHS pages
Talking therapies
Therapy For You is your local provider of NHS Talking Therapies in Castle Point, offering free and confidential talking therapy and practical support for adults with common mental health problems including anxiety and depression.
Therapy For You is provided by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).
This FREE service is available to all patients registered with a GP practice and is open to people aged 17 and over.
After your needs are assessed you will be offered the most appropriate care with a trained professional, which may include talking therapy to help you manage your current mental health problem including
- Stress and anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Depression including pre and post-natal
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Living with a long term condition such as diabetes, heart disease, chronic pain or IBS.
- Providing care for a loved one, friend or family member
Treatment sessions may be by phone, online, in groups or face-to-face. Treatment options are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) which is a structured therapy where you will set goals you want to reach and work on changes you can make to patterns of thoughts and behaviours to help you attain your goal.
Phone
01268 739 128
Young people and mental health
Mental health conditions can affect people of all ages, but we have specific services available for children and young people up to 18 years of age.
Southend, Essex and Thurrock Children’s and Adolescent’s Mental Health Service (SET CAMHS)
Offering advice and support for children, young people and families in need of support with emotional wellbeing or mental health difficulties.
The service covers Southend, Essex and Thurrock and is open to young people from 0 to 18, or up to 25 for those with special educational needs.
Any child or young person experiencing mental health difficulties, and any parent, guardian or professional can access the service for help and guidance.
Phone
0800 953 0222
Out of hours phone
0800 955 1000
Email
SET-CAMHS.referrals@nelft.nhs.uk
Togetherall
Young people in mid Essex who are going through a tough time or who need someone to talk to can access free, anonymous online support.
This service is available to young people aged 16 to 18, and to young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) aged 16 to 25. The service is available 24/7 at www.togetherall.com to access all you need to do is enter your postcode.
Kooth
A online support community for young people aged 11 to 18 years with free, safe and secure access to a team of qualified counsellors. Young people can access this service anonymously by signing onto the Kooth website. They can access:
- Online counselling
- Self-help materials
- Fully moderated peer-to-peer support forums
- Personal goal-based journal
The website offers out of office hours support everyday:
- Weekdays from midday until 10pm
- Weekends from 6pm until 10pm
- Limited times on bank holidays
Kids inspire
Kids Inspire supports children and young people recovering from traumatic experiences or dealing with emerging mental health difficulties. The service is for ages 5 to 18, or up to 25 if they have an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) in place.
Phone
01245 348707
Email
clinicaladmin@kidsinspire.org.uk
Specialist Counselling Services for Children and Young People
Specialist early intervention service for CYP with emerging mental health issues. Help for: low level depression, anxiety, low mood, worries and concerns about Covid-19.
Phone
01245 348 707
Mental health support during and after pregnancy
There are a number of maternity services across mid and south Essex designed to help women through their pregnancy, including apps, counselling support and advice of eating better and staying well during your pregnancy.
If you think you may be pregnant visit the NHS website for information on signs and symptoms of pregnancy. If you are pregnant then make an appointment at your GP or maternity unit as soon as possible, where a midwife or GP will discuss your care choices.
Maternity services in Essex
Our hospitals deliver thousands of babies every year in modern, well equipped maternity units. Our maternity staff across our mid and south Essex hospitals are committed to providing high quality maternity care for women and their families during pregnancy, labour and after the birth of their baby.
If you have a positive pregnancy test and wish to have your baby under the care of Mid and South Essex maternity services, you can contact us directly by completing the antenatal self-referral form without the need to see your GP first.
Website
www.mse.nhs.uk/maternity-services
Perinatal mental health service
The perinatal mental health service provides community-based treatment and support for mums, mums to be and their families. The service is available to women during the perinatal period (during pregnancy and up to baby’s first birthday) who are experiencing, or are likely to experience mental health difficulties. Our team aims to help Mums and their families to have safe, healthy pregnancies, and supportive postnatal experiences by promoting wellbeing and preventing relapse.
Website
Perinatal Mental Health Service, Rochford
Maternity direct app
A new app, maternity direct, will mean mums to be across Mid and South Essex will have greater peace of mind in between their scheduled midwife appointments.
Basildon Hospital has launched maternity direct, a free, secure, web-based app that connects mums to be with an NHS midwife. This is the first app to interactively connect registered NHS midwives with pregnant women for secure instant messaging chats.
Eating well in pregnancy
Serious Mental Illness (SMI) checks
We all have to look after our health, but people with severe mental illness (SMI) need to be a little extra careful. Individuals with SMI will most likely have a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Your medication and lifestyle could put you at risk of certain health problems. The good news is, you’re entitled to an annual health check to get advice and support.
What will happen at my annual physical health check?
The health check will be completed by a competent healthcare practitioner. This may be done at your GP Practice, may be done by specialist mental health workers in the community, or may be done by your community mental health team if you are receiving care from a specialist team.
They will:
- Weigh you and/or measure your waist. This is to see if you are at risk of developing diabetes, heart attack or stroke. Being too heavy can also increase your chance of getting other physical problems.
- Measure your blood pressure. Raised blood pressure can contribute to heart attack and stroke.
- Take a blood test to check your cholesterol and sugar levels, and make sure they aren’t too high. Raised cholesterol can also increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. High blood sugar can mean you have diabetes.
You will also discuss:
- Side effects of medication
- Smoking, alcohol and use of non-prescription drugs
- Exercise and diet
- Other health problems
- What help you have or need at home
- How you keep yourself well
Further information
The good health guide is full of practical information and helpful tips for people severely affected by mental illness. The Professionals who do your physical health check will also be able to advise you on ways to improve your physical health, and link you to organisations and services in your local community who can help.