Our friendly team can help you find the support you need if you're finding things difficult. If you need advice, emotional support or more in-depth help, Pathfinder West Sussex is here for you
We understand that you may feel worried or uncertain about finding support for your mental health. Taking that first step can be the hardest thing, but remember that it is progress towards feeling better and making positive changes in your life.
Please note that Pathfinder West Sussex is not a crisis service. Please refer to this web page for same or next-day help.
We know that everyone’s mental health needs are different and that mental health can fluctuate over time. So we work with you to explore the support that is right for you.
All our services are integrated with neighbourhood mental health teams in West Sussex, which bring together NHS and voluntary sector services. This means we can ensure that you get to the right place for support, including referring you for clinical treatment if required. Here’s some information about the types of support we can offer.
Call 0300 303 5652
This freephone number is your single point of entry into Pathfinder West Sussex. We will listen to you and work out what support might suit you – and offer wellbeing advice and information. You can contact us by phone, email or through a web-based self-referral form – or a professional can contact Help Point on your behalf.
If you need interpreting or communication support, we can provide this. Please request this when you contact us or ask someone to request this on your behalf.
Need help now?
Call Help Point on freephone 0300 303 5652
(Mon to Fri, 10am – 4pm) or email helppoint@pathfinderwestsussex.org.uk
One of our mental health recovery workers will meet with you – in-person, online or by phone – to discuss your needs and goals and develop a support plan together. Support is provided in community venues and some GP surgeries in West Sussex, with opportunities for one-to-one and group support, as well as activities and workshops.
Many of the staff working with Pathfinder West Sussex have lived experience of mental health problems or homelessness themselves. We value this experience highly across all our services.
We offer community peer group sessions in which you can connect with other people who are experiencing similar problems with their mental health. This allows you to share experiences, feel understood by others and develop connections in a safe space. All sessions are co-ordinated by one of our employees or volunteers. We know how powerful peer support can be as part of your recovery journey.
As part of your support plan, you may choose to join activity groups with others – from creative and physical activity groups to mindfulness and social groups. This is an opportunity to try new things, meet others experiencing difficulties with their mental health and build confidence.
If you are experiencing mental health problems around particular issues, such as anxiety, grief and loss, stress or low self-esteem, our supported self-help service can help.
Over six weeks, we’ll give you information, resources and regular phone calls to help understand your emotions and improve how you feel. It’s a flexible support model with phone and video appointments to fit your schedule. You can choose from one of eight pathways:
anxiety and panic attacks
coping with grief and loss
loneliness and feeling lonely
low self-esteem
low mood and depression
managing anger
managing stress
understanding menopause.
Our teams are linked with staff in NHS and GP services, so that we can look at the whole picture of your needs. We can support people to have physical health screenings and treatment where necessary.
We know that there is a strong link between homelessness and mental health with poor mental health being both a cause and consequence of homelessness. Through our Pathfinder partners, Stonepillow, Turning Tides and Crawley Open House, we can offer mental health and wellbeing support for people experiencing homelessness.
We know that being in work can help you maintain good mental health, giving independence, a sense of purpose and improving the way we feel about ourselves. Through our partner Southdown’s Work and Wellbeing service, employment specialists can work with you to find and retain work that is right for you. This service is also known as Individual Placement and Support (IPS).
