Healthcare executive in Sussex says mental health support is always available during lockdown

"One in four of us at any time could be struggling and need help — it's very common." That's how one mental healthcare leader in Sussex viewed the crisis brought about by the coronavirus lockdown, as she told More Radio about the situation her colleagues are working through. At the foot of this article is a partial contact list you can use straight away if you are concerned about your own, or someone else's mental health. Professionals in mental healthcare across the county have been echoing the same message: anyone struggling with the coronavirus crisis can make use of help that's freely available to all people living and working in the county. According to the charity West Sussex Mind, there are certain signs that indicate someone could be experiencing increasing difficulties with their state of mind. Behaviours to look out include: very disturbed sleep; difficulty eating or concentrating; stopping being able to do the normal day-to-day things they normally enjoy, and that usually would help them cope with life. Katie Glover, chief executive of West Sussex Mind, said the range of people experiencing new mental health difficulties extends very widely, and includes young people: "They're worried about their future because their exams have been cancelled. "Education has been interrupted for quite a lot of people, and we already know the lockdown is making it much more challenging for them. "Quite a lot of evidence is coming out showing that more people are struggling now with mental health — and that's going to continue for a while." She added that all mental healthcare workers understand how difficult it is to make the first approach, asking for help. She said: "We still live in a society where lots of people feel asking for help is a sign of weakness. "But the reality is that so many people struggle with mental health that there is no need to feel like that." Katie also pointed out the dangers of not seeking help that is freely available throughout Sussex: "One of the things that we are very worried about during this difficult time is the increase of self-harm, and even suicide. "So, for people feeling holding on to their feelings, there is plenty of help for them. "It's what we're most concerned about, and we really want to encourage you to come forward for help as soon as possible, so you don't get into that place." To contact West Sussex Mind, simply email their team today: info@westsussexmind.org Activities already available to join, safely on-line and remotely, include: Women's group Men's group Tips on coping with isolation Mindful breathing Social chat Quizzes Workshops on food and mood Music and mood Singing in a choir Art groups Poetry groups Public Mental Healthcare Contacts in Sussex (partial list) Sussex Mental Healthline For telephone support and information: 0300 5000 101. For urgent help in a crisis, click here. No appointment is needed. The Sussex Mental Healthline offers crisis care for people in urgent need of help with their mental health. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The team welcomes Text Relay calls and New Generation Text calls from hearing and speech impaired callers, on 0300 5000 101. By telephone, experts offer support and information to anyone experiencing mental health problems including stress, anxiety and depression. The service is also available to carers and healthcare professionals. The service is available to anyone concerned about their own mental health or that of a relative or friend, and provides support for people experiencing distress. Health in Mind  This is the free NHS service for residents of East Sussex experiencing stress, anxiety or low mood. The service's mission is to ensure you can access support quickly and conveniently. You can self-refer securely online to access courses they deliver in a venue near you. The service offers a wide range of one to one therapy options to suit your needs, including telephone support, online therapy programmes and face to face at convenient locations. Health in Mind has qualified Counsellors, CBT therapists, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and Primary Care Mental Health Practitioners . There are also practitioners qualified in EMDR, Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Mindfulness and counselling for depression. The service is FREE and available to adults over the age of 18 who are registered with a GP and living in the East Sussex area. If you are a resident in Brighton and Hove, please contact Brighton & Hove Wellbeing service on 0300 002 0060. West Sussex Mind The service is always available to help during the Covid-19 crisis, and afterwards. Its website is https://www.westsussexmind.org/ More Radio is continuously dedicated to providing a quality news service on-air and online, reporting local stories that matter across Sussex. If you found this story useful, then check out our home page at moreradio.online where you can find the latest from the county, along with features and competitions from our presenters, as well as listening to the station live. You can also sign up to our news alerts to receive updates on new stories. Simply click on the bell at the bottom right of the home page. This will then allow a pop-up which will ask if you would like to receive alerts. 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