SMHL Tel: 08000 0309 500
The Children and young people’s Sussex mental health line is a mental health support line and information service for children, young people, parents and carers.
The service offers listening support, advice, information and signposting to anyone experiencing difficulties, or who may be in crisis and in urgent need of help with their mental health. It is a free service and available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend. This includes carers and healthcare professionals.
The telephone line is open 24/7 and all calls are answered by mental health trained clinicians.
When to contact SMHL?
- If a young person is suicidal or has self-harmed
- If a young person is experiencing extreme emotional distress that won’t stop
- If a young person is experiencing sudden or severe anxiety which is preventing them getting on with their normal life
- If a young person is in extreme emotional distress and would like to speak to someone
- If anyone needs urgent advice about a young person’s mental health.
What SMHL can do to help?
- Offer advice and support about how to cope in a crisis
- Help the young person and carers make plans to keep the young person safe
- Complete an urgent assessment of risk
- Offer follow-up from local CAMHS Duty and Liaison Teams
- Offer signposting to other services that may be able to support.
Accessibility
The health line is accessible to people who are hearing or speech impaired via Text Relay. To start a call, dial 18002 then the full phone number of the helpline: 0800 0309 500.
For callers whose first language is not English, they are able to arrange a telephone interpreter for other community languages. Call the helpline and let them know the language needed and they will make the necessary arrangements.
For further information please visit:
http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/yourmindmatters
https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/sussex-mental-healthline