Mental health support
If you want to talk to someone about how you're feeling, or what you're experiencing, you can contact any of the places listed below.
If you feel your life is at risk right now, call 999 or head to A&E.
If you are safe and need someone to talk to, you can get support here:
- Call NHS Mental Health Crisis support on 111
- Call Samaritans on 116 123
- Text 'HANTS' to 85258
- If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Find out more about our Suicide Prevention Campaign - Do you know where to go for help? and #LifeCards
If you life is at risk right now and you feel you might attempt suicide or have seriously harmed yourself - call 999 or head to A&E. Mental health emgencies are serious - you are not wasting anyone's time.
If you are safe and need someone to talk to you can get support here:
- call NHS Mental Health Crisis support on 111
- call Samaritans on 116 123
- text 'HANTS' to 85258
- If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Talking Therapies is a service for adults in Hampshire and IOW. However, the geographical boundary does not apply to Trust staff, you can access Talking Therapies even if registered with a GP outside of Hampshire and IOW. Talking Therapies offers a wide range of treatments, in a wide range of formats, and offers support with everyday wellbeing as well as diagnosed common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, phobias, OCD and PTSD.
You can access Talking Therapies via this link. If you’re interested in one of their particular classes or courses (such as Breathing Space for relaxation techniques, Coping with Long-Covid for those with ongoing symptoms affecting their emotional wellbeing and Self-Care for Carers for those looking after a loved one), you can book online directly without needing an assessment.
Kooth is an online counselling and emotional well-being support service providing young people aged 11-25 years (up to 26th birthday) with a safe and secure means of accessing support with their emotional health and wellbeing needs from a professional team of qualified counsellors. It offers:
- A free, confidential, anonymous and safe way to receive mental health support online.
- Out of hours’ availability. Counsellors are available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays and 6pm to 10pm at weekends, every day of the year on a drop in basis.
- Online Counselling from a professional team of BACP qualified counsellors is available via 1-1 chat sessions or messaging on a drop in basis or via booked sessions.
- Discussion Boards which are all pre-moderated allow young people to access peer to peer support.
- Online Magazine full of moderated articles many of which are submitted by young people offering advice and guidance on a huge range of topics.
Havant & East Hants Children and Young People’s Safe Haven is an out of hours crisis support service for any young person in the Havant Borough aged 11-17 years old.
You can book an appointment by calling 0300 303 1580 or email cypsafehaven@easthantsmind.org between 5pm – 8pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Last appointments are at 7.30pm.
Our Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) provides a supportive environment for victims of rape or sexual assault/abuse in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Please visit the service website here.
The service has specially trained female crisis workers who will be available to you from the moment you contact Treetops. They can provide emotional support and explain all the options that may be available to you. They will support you in whatever decisions you make and provide information on other support services in your area. If you are not sure if you want to report to the police, they can talk this through with you.
A forensic medical examination by a specialist doctor may be appropriate. This examination will be carried out as sympathetically as possible, and can be undertaken whether the police are involved or not. The examination may include, where appropriate, pregnancy testing, emergency contraception and referral to sexual health services for STI testing.
The crisis worker can refer you to an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) who is based near to your address. The ISVA for young people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is based at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre. Police interview facilities are available. Most of all - we will listen to you.
You can get support from staff and volunteers by telephone, email, text or face to face during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Aldershot Safe Haven is for adults experiencing a mental health crisis.
It is open 365 days a year.
- 6pm-11pm Monday to Friday
- 12.30pm - 11pm weekends and bank holidays.
You can talk to someone who knows what you're going through, drop-in for peer or wellbeing support. They are also available to offer crisis support virtually using the link: https://nhs.vc/sabp/safe-haven-aldershot
This virtual service is available during Aldershot Safe Haven's usual operating hours.
Safe Haven is a drop-in service in Basingstoke, offering help to those in self-defined crisis. Based at 3 Vyne Road in Basingstoke, it is an out-of-hours walk-in centre, with signposting for other services too.
It provides emotional and practical support to adults experiencing a mental health crisis - in a safe, calm, comfortable, compassionate and non-medicalised environment.
Safe Haven is open evenings, including weekends and bank holidays, 365 days a year between the hours of 6.00pm and 10.00pm. The service covers Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover areas.
Info: www.andovermind.org.uk/north-and-mid-hampshire-safe-haven
The Adults’ Safe Haven in Havant provides face to face immediate crisis support if you are struggling with your mental health. No-one will be turned away based on where they live and the service has a Freephone crisis line for those unable to attend physically.
No appointment necessary, just drop into the Wellbeing hub in Leigh park or call 0300 3031560 to speak to our on-site trained crisis workers, mental health practitioners, or drug and alcohol support team.
Clients can remain anonymous. Open 6pm- 10pm 365 days a year.
For more information visit https://www.easthantsmind.org/adults-safe-haven/
The Safe Haven service in Newport provides a safe space for people in a mental health crisis. You can get support from staff and volunteers by telephone, email, text or face to face during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5pm-10pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-10pm.
Address: Safe Haven, 7 High Street, Newport, PO30 1UD.
Safe Haven offers:
- A safe place to talk
- A review of crisis management
- Support to stay at well
- Signposting to other support
- Private, online, self-guided mental health support through Mind District.
Call: 01983 520168
Email: safehaven@twosaints.org.uk
The Safe Haven service in Ryde provides a safe space for people in a mental health crisis. You can get support from staff and volunteers by telephone, email, text or face to face during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Opening Hours: Friday 5pm-9pm and Saturday - Sunday 1pm-9pm.
Address: Town Hall, 10 Lind Street, Ryde Safe Haven.
Safe Haven offers:
- A safe place to talk
- A review of crisis management
- Support to stay at well
- Signposting to other support
- Private, online, self-guided mental health support through Mind District.
Call: 01983 520168
Email: safehaven@twosaints.org.uk
Mental Wellbeing Hampshire is a partnership of organisations working to support good mental health and wellbeing for Hampshire people.
You can get help and support on a range of topics including:
- specialist help
- money and debt
- bereavement
- armed forces and veterans
- work place support
- suicide prevention.
Everyone over the age of 18 who is in crisis or struggling with their emotional wellbeing is welcome at The Oasis. They provide a safe and supportive environment for those experiencing, or seeking to prevent, a mental health crisis.
The staff and volunteers at The Oasis listen without judgement; they respect people at all times and support those in crisis. They will not share your personal information unless they have your permission or they have to because of our duty of care to protect your health, safety and wellbeing and that of others.
You need to book a time slot at The Oasis before turning up. Please contact 0800 772 0527 in the first instance. We will offer you a time slot with support given via telephone, video or face to face depending on circumstances.
The Portsmouth Mental Health Hub is a central point to help all Portsmouth residents find the support they need.
The friendly team of experts have great knowledge of all services in the city and can help anyone feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start.
The hub can be contacted by anyone over the age of 16 by calling 0300 123 6621 (Mon - Fri 8.00am - 6.00pm) or visiting www.mentalhealthinportsmouth.co.uk
Fully trained call handlers will, in a kind and compassionate way, either arrange an appointment with services such as Talking Change or offer support to connect with local organisations including HIVE Portsmouth, social support or substance misuse. Callers do not need to go through their GP before using the phoneline.
The Alzheimer Café is a meeting place giving information about dementia, and signposting to other services. They welcome people with dementia, their families, carers, professionals, and people with an interest in dementia. There is no booking needed to go along to the café and new people are always welcome. The cafes are held across the Island, including East Cowes, Ryde, Cowes, Newport, Sandown, and Totland. Please visit the website to see the address of each café and when they are on.
Website: www.alzheimercafeiow.org.uk
Call: 01983 220200
Email: info@alzheimercafeiow.org.uk
The Better Days Cafe tries to make the lives of people in the community better. It offers a drop in mental health and signposting service and mental health workshops for adults and teenagers. The cafe offers people with Learning disabilities and/or Mental health issues a chance to learn skills so they can get a job, like till skills, customer service and kitchen hygiene certificates, as well as interview skills and CV advice.
Website: www.thebetterdayscafe.co.uk
Address: Central Hotel, 64 High St, Ventnor, PO38 1LT.
Call: 07729 733010
Shirley
If you live in Southampton (within the SO14-SO19 postcodes) and feel you are at crisis point with your mental health, you can come and visit the Lighthouse in Shirley, which is open 4.30pm - 12.00am (midnight) seven days a week.
The Lighthouse offers a safe haven for people in mental health crisis or who may be experiencing highly distressing symptoms but who have no urgent physical health needs
How to access the service:
147 Shirley Road, Options wellbeing, The Annexe, Southampton, SO15 3FH
Access our virtual service: those in mental health crisis or emotional distress can text ‘lighthouse’ and their postcode (for example Lighthouse SO14 0YG) to the Mind text line number (07451276010) between 4.30pm and 12am. Our staff will then contact them via telephone, email, webchat or text.
Bitterne
Due to the success of the initial Lighthouse service, launched in 2020 in Shirley, a second location is now open in Bitterne, on the other side of the city. The service will be run by the Trust, in partnership with Solent Mind and will operate as an out-of-hours, safe space for those in mental health crisis to get support. The new Lighthouse service will be open in the evenings from 4.30pm to 11.30pm, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. People can access the service by texting 'Lighthouse' followed by their postcode to 07451 276010.
The Lookout offers short-term supported housing to people in the early stages of a mental health crisis.
It has seven peaceful individual bedrooms, an activity area, shared kitchen facilities and quiet spaces which are now available 24/7 to those in need. The service is being run by Sanctuary Supported Living in partnership with Southern Health. Project workers and peer support staff work with clinicians to give people a safe place to recover and stabilise before returning to their own accommodation.
The service is available for people in need of support for short stays (up a maximum of 28 days). The Lookout is based in Kennel Lane, Littleton (SO22 6PT).
For more info, email: Laura.DeFranco@sanctuary-housing.co.uk.
Ventnor Wellbeing café was created as a safe space for people with mental health issues and bringing people together to feel like part of the community. Everyone is welcome to come along and have a coffee and chat. Check the Facebook group for event details.
Opening Times: Mon and Wed (10am-1pm) Tue and Fri (midday-4pm)
Website: www.facebook.com/Ventnorwellbeing
If your life is at risk right now and you feel you might attempt suicide or have seriously harmed yourself - call 999 or head to A&E. Mental health emergencies are serious - you are not wasting anyone's time.
If you are safe and need someone to talk to you can get support here:
Text 'SHOUT' to 85258. (Free service)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
Trained volunteers are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safe place. Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK. It won’t appear on your phone bill.
Text 'HANTS' to 85258. (Free service)
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
Trained volunteers are there for you 24/7 to listen and support you to get to a calmer and safe place. Shout is a free, confidential, anonymous service for anyone in the UK. It won’t appear on your phone bill.
Our NHS 111 Mental Health Triage Service provides advice, support and guidance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone living in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
The Mental Health Triage Team has a wide range of skills, including on the phone brief psychological support and has access to key services and organisations that can offer mental health support to people in their time of need. This service can also be also used by GPs and other healthcare professionals, the emergency services, mental health charities and any other organisations that come into contact with people experiencing a mental health crisis .
Call 111 or visit www.111.nhs.uk and ask speak to the NHS Mental Health Triage Service.
Please call 116123 (free number).
Email jo@samaritans.org
They offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal. These services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
SANEline is a national out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers.
They are normally open every day of the year from 4pm to 10pm - call: 0300 304 7000.
Our helpline is here to support you – particularly if you feel you have reached a moment of crisis. We know that moment of crisis is different for everybody – some people can reach that point daily, and for some people it is a rare occurrence.
Solent Mind have a support line for anyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who feels low, anxious and needs someone to talk to.
Help and advice is available to everyone. You do not need to be receiving any other kind of mental health support to be able to call.
Call on: 023 8017 9049
Weekdays: 9am - 7pm
Weekends - 10am - 2pm
Physical health
If you have a concern about a physical health problem out of hours, speak to your GP. They will have their own out of hours arrangements to ensure you receive the care and treatment you need.
You can also call 111 for out of hours help or get online help at: https://111.nhs.uk/
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do.
Get help online or on the phone:
- go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only)
- call 111
- NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you’re Deaf and want to use the phone service, you can use the NHS 111 British Sign Language service available in your country:
- England – NHS 111 (BSL) interpreter service
How NHS 111 works
You answer questions about your symptoms on the website, or by speaking to a fully trained adviser on the phone. You can ask for a translator if you need one.
Depending on the situation you will:
- find out what local service can help you
- be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
- get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
- be given an arrival time if you need to go to A&E – this might mean you spend less time in A&E
- be told how to get any medicine you need
- get self-care advice
Further information
Call 999 in a medical emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.
Medical emergencies can include:
- loss of consciousness
- an acute confused state
- fits that are not stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
Call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions. Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma, such as after a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury.
Urgent treatment centres (UTCs) are GP-led, open at least 12 hours a day, every day, offer appointments that can be booked through 111 or through a GP referral, and are equipped to diagnose and deal with many of the most common ailments people attend A&E for.
Find an Urgent Treatment Centre or Minor Injuries Unit near you:
- Andover Minor Injuries Clinic, Andover War Memorial Hospital – to book an appointment please call 111
- Gosport War Memorial Hospital Minor Injuries Unit.
- Isle of Wight Urgent Treatment Centre, St Mary’s Hospital – please note this is not a walk in service, please call 111 to make an appointment.
- Lymington Urgent Treatment Centre, Lymington Hospital.
- Petersfield Community Hospital Minor Injuries Unit.
- Practice Plus Group Urgent Treatment Centre, St Mary’s, Portsmouth.
- Southampton Urgent Treatment Centre, the Royal South Hants Hospital.
You can also find urgent care services near you by entering your postcode on the NHS website.
An A&E department (also known as emergency department or casualty) deals with genuine life-threatening emergencies, such as:
- loss of consciousness
- acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds
- stroke
- major trauma such as a road traffic accident
- Less severe injuries can be treated in urgent care centres or minor injuries units.
If you're not sure what to do NHS 111 can help if you need urgent medical support.
They will ask questions about your symptoms so you get the help you need.
If you need to go to A&E, NHS 111 will book an arrival time. This might mean you spend less time in A&E. This also helps with social distancing.
You can get help from 111.nhs.uk or call 111. It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
How to find your nearest A&E
Not all hospitals have an A&E department, you can find your nearest A&E on the NHS website.