Health & Wellbeing
Our physical health and emotional wellbeing have a significant impact on our quality of life. Good physical and emotional health help reduce our risk of developing a wide number of health conditions.
Emotional Wellbeing
What is Emotional Wellbeing?
Emotional Wellbeing is defined by the Mental Health Foundation as:
“A positive sense of wellbeing which enables an individual to be able to function in society and meet the demands of everyday life; people in good mental health have the ability to recover effectively from illness, change, or misfortune.”
Why is Emotional Wellbeing Important?
Addressing your mental health is as important as your physical health. Having good mental health helps us to relax more and enjoy what we really love doing. We also know that pain and injuries can reduce our mental health and this can slow down our ability to recover. By improving our emotional wellbeing we can also improve our physical health.
How Can I Improve My Emotional Wellbeing?
Regular exercise, spending time with loved ones, and achieving challenges can help us with our mental health. It is also important to slow down from time to time. Paying more attention to ourselves, our thoughts and feelings, as well as the world around us can help us to enjoy life more and to understand ourselves better.
You can find more information about improving your mental wellbeing at NHS Live Well – Improve Mental Wellbeing. This includes advice on how to make changes, as well as links to support and advice services.
Mental Health & Crisis Support
If you feel you may be struggling with your mental health it can be daunting and scary to seek help. We have put together a collection of resources and services to help you help yourself.
Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service
A mental health service for adults in Brighton and Hove.
Tel. 0300 0020060
Email: BICS.brighton-hove-wellbeing@nhs.net
Crisis Support
Should you require support in a crisis, are in distress or are in need of urgent help with your mental health, services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Samaritans: 116 123
A 24 hour confidential listening service providing emotional support for anyone in crisis.
NHS Mental Health and Wellbeing
Here you will find help and support for dealing with common mental health problems (including stress, anxiety, and low mood) as well as links to therapy and young people support services.
West Sussex Talking Therapies
This service provides talking therapies across West Sussex for a wide range of general and diagnosed mental health concerns.
Mind
Tel. 0300 123 3393
Mind provides information on a range of topics including: types of mental health problem, where to get help, medication and alternative treatments and advocacy. They will look for details of help and support in your own area. Lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except for bank holidays.)’ as notes
Headspace
This app aims to support your mental health by helping you to become less stressed, more resilient, and happier.
Northumberland Self Help
Here you will find leaflets on life difficulties and self-help guidance.
ReThink
They improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness through our network of local groups and services, expert information and successful campaigning. Their goal is to make sure everyone severely affected by mental illness has a good quality of life.
NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies
Tel. 01403 620434 (Crawley, Horsham & Mid Sussex)
Papyrus: 0800 068 41 41
A national confidential helpline for any young people (under 35) at risk of suicide, or anyone worried about a young person at risk of suicide. The helpline is open 10am – 10pm weekdays, 2pm – 10pm weekends and 2pm – 5pm bank holidays.
THE MIX: 0800 808 4994
The Mix is the UK’s free confidential helpline service for young people under the age of 25 who need help, but don’t know where to turn. Open 365 days a year, for absolutely anything you’re going through.
Stay Alive
This app provides support to those having thoughts of suicide, or for those concerned about someone else.
NHS 24/7 mental health crisis line: 111
Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option to be connected to a 24/7 mental health crisis line. The service is also known locally as the Sussex Mental Healthline. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Calm Harm
This app provides support and guidance for those struggling with self harm.
Side by Side
This online community from the charity Mind is a community where you can listen, share, and be heard.
SAM
This app aims to help you understand and manage anxiety.
Daylio
This is a mobile self-care bullet journal with goals, a mood diary, and a happiness tracker.
7Cups
An online therapy & free counselling resource with access to professional therapists and specialized support listeners.
CALM
The Campaign Against Living Miserably offers confidential, anonymous and free support, information and signposting to men anywhere in the UK through their helpline.
Tel. 0800 58 58 58
Get Self Help in various languages
Mental health resources in a variety of languages
Mental Health Foundation
This link has a range of content designed to give you more information about mental health and to help you to look after your mental health. There are podcasts, videos and tools for you to test your stress and levels of positive mental health, inspiring stories and information about getting help if you’re struggling.’
The Sussex Recovery College
Here you will find the prospectus and further information on The Sussex Recovery College who offer educational courses about mental health and recovery which are designed to increase your knowledge, skills and promote self-management. This may help you take control and become an expert in your own wellbeing and recovery and get on with your life despite mental health challenges
SANE Mental Health Helpline: 0300 304 7000
SANE runs a national out of hours mental health helpline, offering specialist emotional support and information to anyone affected by mental illness. Including family, friends and carers. Open every day of the year from 6pm to 11pm.
Mindfullness
10 Minute Mindful Movement Video
12 Minute Mindful Movement Audio
20 Minute Mindful Movement Audio
Aura App
Whenever you are stressed and anxious or having trouble sleeping, this app will find mindfulness meditations, life coaching, music etc just for you. (£50/year)
Insight Timer
Free mindfulness / wellbeing app
The Free Mindfulness Project
The Free Mindfulness Project website will provide you with access to free mindfulness downloads and links to resources
Breathing Exercises for Stress
Buddhify App
The Buddhify app (£4.99) includes over 200 meditations to help overcome lifes challenges including anxiety, stress, sleep, pain and difficult emotions
Calm App
The Calm App offers guidance on sleep, meditation and relaxation
Smiling Mind App
The Smiling Mind App provides you with daily meditation and mindfulness exercises