Sussex Mental Health Support over the Festive Period
Christmas can be a difficult time for many people. Here you can find a list of mental health and crisis support services open in Sussex over the festive period as well as information on wellbeing activities across the winter months.
You may also find National Mind’s Christmas coping tips helpful for supporting your mental health at this time of year.
24/7 Crisis Support
Sussex Mental Health Line: Call 111 and select option 2
Samaritans: Call 01273 772277 or text 07725909090
Shout: Text the word SUSSEX to 85258
Mental Health Rapid Response Service- Brighton and Hove Only: 0300 304 0078
Staying Well
The Staying Well Spaces are out-of-hours mental health crisis prevention services. The services provide psychosocial support and crisis prevention planning. This includes contacting people to build crisis plans together, increasing resilience and coping skills. Individuals can phone the service directly to self-refer when they aren't able to cope or feel they are heading towards a crisis point.
Walk-in Staying Well Services are available at:
Brighton and Hove: The Wellbeing Hub, 18 Preston Park Avenue, Brighton, BN1 6HL
Crawley: Arundel House, Unit 1 Ground Floor, Amberley Court, Whitworth Road, Crawley, RH11 7XL
Appointment-based Staying Well Services are also available in Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing.
Call 0800 023 6475 or visit the staying well website for more information.
Staying Well Services Christmas Opening Hours
Christmas Eve: 3pm - 10.30pm
Christmas Day: 5pm - 10.30pm
Boxing Day: 5pm - 10.30pm
New Year’s Eve: 3pm - 10.30pm
New Years Day: 3pm - 10.30pm
Head Space
Open as usual over Christmas and New Year: 7 days a week, 6pm—midnight.
Head Space offers an out-of-hours service for people who consider that they are approaching a mental health crisis.
Call 07890 257 614 or email headspace@colebrooksw.org
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
Mind in Brighton and Hove
Our Advocacy and Advice and Information Services will be open on the 27, 28, 29th December. You can find Mind in Brighton and Hove’s Christmas opening hours here.
Across the winter months our Wellbeing in East Sussex Project is providing a range of winter wellbeing activites. These include art sessions, wellbeing stalls at libraries and warm spaces, winter wellbeing walks, mindfulness activities, and a wellbeing drop in at Hastings Heart Community Info Hub. Get in touch with our project coordinator Charlie for more information: Charlie.Cheeseman@mindcharity.co.uk or call 07871856877.
The Samaritans
The Samaritans provide listening support as well as crisis support. They are open 24/7 across the festive period.
Call 01273 772277 or text 07725909090
Together Co
Christmas day online connect- 10am-11am
Run by two therapists, Together Co are offering an online space for 12 individuals to come together to connect and reflect with each other. Individuals can book via eventbrite.
Seaview Project
Open Access Wellbeing centre drop-in on 23rd and 30th December- 9-12pm
Hatherley Road St Leonards-on-Sea East Sussex TN37 6LB
Call: 01424 717981
The Clare Project - Transgender Support and Social Group
Call: 07464 229395
Over 50s Group- Royal Pavilion Ice Rink Cafe, Brighton, BN1 1FN
- Monday 18th December 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Drop-in Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Brighton, BN2 1RL
- Tuesday 19th December 2pm - 5pm
- Tuesday 2nd January 5pm-7pm
Pathfinder
You can explore a range of mental health, wellbeing and community activities across West Sussex via the Pathfinder website. Different organisations are listed on the pathfinder website and each will publish its own Christmas opening hours separately.
Online Support
Grassroots Suicide Prevention Staying Alive App:
Can be used by those at risk or individuals who are worried that someone is at risk.
Click here to download the Staying Alive App.
MindOut online chat service:
A free, confidential, and non-judgmental Online Support Live Chat service for individuals who identify as LGBTQA+.
Click here to access the MindOut LGBTQIA+ online chat service.