Portsmouth residents are now able to access a free phone line to get mental health support in the city.
The creation of the phone line comes from feedback gathered during events run by Health and Care Portsmouth, which is a partnership of six healthcare organisations in the city.
Feedback from the workshops suggested the development of an ‘access hub’ for mental health, to provide a point of contact for support and advice.
Jo York, Managing Director for Portsmouth in the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “In the workshops, people told us that the number of routes to access support was confusing, daunting and unclear, and felt they were being sent from one service to another without getting the help or information they felt they needed. We are determined to change that.”
The phone line is available to individuals aged 16 and over, who can call 0300 123 6621 from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm. Fully trained call handlers will either arrange an appointment with services such as Talking Change or Positive Minds, or offer support to contact organisations such as Hive Portsmouth, social support or substance misuse.
Jo added: “We believe that the phone line will help transform access to mental health support and advice across the city and we are excited to be working collaboratively with those involved to make this ambition a long-term reality for the benefit of not just the person with mental health needs, but their wider circle of family and friends too.”
The launch is part of the Improving Mental Health In Portsmouth programme, which is aimed at making access to community mental health services better.
It is intended that the service will eventually be developed into a website and a mobile app where support can be accessed virtually, and become known as The Portsmouth Mental Health Hub.
