Access to mental health help in Portsmouth increases with new website
A new website is now live for Portsmouth residents to get professional mental health support and advice before they reach crisis point.
The website is the latest phase in the rollout of the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub, which was launched in April 2023 with a phoneline for those aged 16 and over by Health and Care Portsmouth and its partner organisations.
Over the last eight months, the Hub phoneline has enabled people to have compassionate conversations with fully trained call handlers who can swiftly arrange appointments with services such as NHS Talking Therapies or offer support to connect with local organisations including HIVE Portsmouth, social support or substance misuse – all without the need to go through their GP beforehand.
In this time, the Hub has taken more than 3,000 calls and helped a vast number of Portsmouth residents, 1,500 of whom who have been referred onwards for appropriate mental health support.
The website, as with the phoneline, will not only be accessible to those experiencing mental health matters as well as friends, relatives and colleagues who want to support someone close to them.
The website includes:
- Information about local mental health services
- A catalogue of emotions and feelings for people to identify with
- Articles from people with lived experiences
- Latest news about the Hub
The Hub was created following community workshop participants expressing a desire to develop an ‘access hub’ for mental health, to provide a clear point of contact for meaningful support and advice.
‘Rich’ is from SHIFT, a Mental Health Peer Led Organisation in Portsmouth. He admits: “It was good to be heard and take part in the digital workshop, it’s positive to know that our ideas have been taken into account and the website will be a positive resource for the city.”
Abi Clarkson, Head of Access at Solent NHS Trust - a Health and Care Portsmouth partner, said: “We are really pleased to be expanding our mental health offer with the website – giving people the choice of how they seek mental health support as we know that people’s preferences are different, especially when taking that brave first step.
“Throughout people’s lives, we fully recognise that many situations can contribute to poor mental health such as financial, housing and relationship matters.
“That is why we encourage the city’s residents to reach out to the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub by phone or online to get help to improve their mental health before they reach crisis point.”
Anyone aged 16 and over can call the hub, which is open Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm, on 0300 123 6621. Visit the website at www.mentalhealthinportsmouth.co.uk .