Detailed below are key contacts if you need help and support. Use the button below to get in touch if you need support. We aim to reply in 48 hours.
National health and wellbeing services
Our mental health and wellbeing can also be known as our “emotional wellbeing”. We all have mental health as well as days when we feel good and days when we don’t. Put simply, your mental health is the way you feel on any day.
However, a person with a mental health or emotional wellbeing problem will have more bad days than good. If you are at immediate risk or harm, please call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
If you are having a mental health crisis and need urgent help now, here are places you can find support:
Childline
If you are under 19 you can confidentially call, chat online or email about any problem big or small 24/7.
Sign up for a free Childline locker (real name or email address not needed) to use their free 1-2-1 counsellor chat and email support service.
Can provide a BSL interpreter if you are deaf or hearing-impaired.
Hosts online message boards where you can share your experiences, have fun, and get support from other young people in similar situations.
NHS 111
To get urgent mental health advice 24/7 from the NHS, call 111 and select the mental health option. 111 will tell you where you can get help. They may also be able to put you through to a trained mental health professional over the phone.
111 can support anyone who is feeling unsafe, distressed, or worried about their mental health. They can also give information and advice about what to do if you are worried about someone else. If you would rather get help online, you can use 111 online.
Samaritans
Whatever you are going through, you can contact the Samaritans for support. This is a 24/7 listening service and does not offer advice or intervention.
Sometimes writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you understand them better, you can also send them an email to jo@samaritans.org please note, it may take several days to get a response by email. Visit their website.
Papyrus
Offers confidential advice and support if you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, and information about how to make a safety plan 24/7.
Its helpline service – HOPELINE247 – is available to anybody under the age of 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts, or for anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide.
Do you need support?
Information on this page can also be used for help or use the get in touch button below. We aim to reply in 48 hours.
Local health and wellbeing services
If you are not sure where to get support, call 0300 123 6621 (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm) to talk to the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub team. The team of friendly experts at the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub have vast knowledge of the different services available in Portsmouth and the ability to refer you to the right service for you. Here is a link to their website, which outlines local services available for support and a form which can be used if you want a Portsmouth Mental Health Hub member to contact you.
Visit their website here.
5 steps to mental wellbeing
Evidence suggests there are 5 steps you can take to improve your mental health and wellbeing. Trying these things could help you feel more positive and able to get the most out of life:
Step 1:
Connection with other people
Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can:
- help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth
- give you an opportunity to share positive experiences
- provide emotional support and allow you to support others
Step 2:
Be physically active
Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
- raising your self-esteem
- helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood
Step 3:
Learning new skills
Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by:
- boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem
- helping you to build a sense of purpose
- helping you to connect with others
Step 4:
Giving to others
Research suggests that acts of giving, and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by:
- creating positive feelings and a sense of reward
- giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth
- helping you connect with other people
Step 5:
Mindfulness
Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental well-being. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body, and the world around you.
Follow the link to find out more about 5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing as well as some Do’s and Don’ts:
Do you need support?
Information on this page can also be used for help or use the get in touch button below. We aim to reply in 48 hours.
Supporting a child or young person with their mental health
If you are worried about the mental health of a child or young person, it can be hard to know what to do to help them. You may also feel like you need support for yourself.
You are not alone and there are places both you and your child can turn to for help. To find out more information, click this link, which will take you to the NHS website for guidance.
Young Minds
Young Minds also offer tailored information, advice and support to parents and carers who are concerned about their child or young person’s mental health. You can speak to them over the phone, or chat to us online.
You can use their Helpline service if you are the parent or main carer of a child or young person aged 25 or under. Our service is available across the UK. It is free and confidential.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline
You can call the Parents Helpline for free on 0808 802 5544, Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 4pm.