Accessing mental health support

Looking after your mental health is important, and so is accessing the right support. It's ok not to be ok, and there's lots of free services you can access for support both in Sunderland and online. 

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can now call NHS 111 and select option 2 for urgent mental health support. It is available 24/7.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss please use NHS 111 – SignVideo or use the 18001 111 Relay UK app.

Don’t worry, local freephone crisis service numbers in your area will still be active for a while to make sure you always get the support you need, and are available 24/7.

You can find a current list of local freephone crisis service numbers on the NHS North East and North Cumbria website.

Thanks to Sunderland Mind, we’ve listed below some important mental health organisations based in the Sunderland area that you can contact if you’re in need of support:

• GP – Call your GP and tell them how you or the person is feeling. They may be able to offer support or notify an agency who can
• Community Psychiatric Nurse – If you have a Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) you could contact them and tell them how you are feeling
• Samaritans – 116 123 this is a free confidential helpline if you feel you need to talk. www.samaritans.org
• Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line – 0300 5000 927 10am – 2pm Monday – Friday
• Sunderland City Council – Contact Adult Services on 0191 520 5552. This is the number of the Call Handling Team who will take basic contact details before referring to the Advice & Assessment Team or one of the Complex Teams for social care needs
• Sunderland Initial Response Team (IRT) – The service is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, throughout the year and can be contacted on 0303 123 1145. The Initial Response Team provides practical advice, emotional support from qualified nursing staff and when appropriate, routing to the right service. The team is made up of a clinical lead, qualified mental health clinicians and experienced support staff
• Shout Crisis Textline - If you need immediate support, you can text SHOUT to 85258 and chat by text to one of their trained volunteers
• Sunderland Mind's WASP - WASP (Wellbeing Action Support Project) is Sunderland Mind’s young people’s project. They provide support to young people across the city. Find out more here. 
• CALM - Calm is the Campaign Against Living Miserably for anyone feeling suicidal or in need of support. Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)

Most of this information has been taken from the Sunderland Mind website.