Adult mental health support

On this page you will find information about mental health support for adults in Portsmouth.

If you are worried or concerned about how you are feeling, the first place to go is your GP. Your GP will be able to assess if you would benefit from more specialised support or be supported by them.

PositiveMinds is a support service in Portsmouth that can help if you’re suffering with low mood or anxiety, or are feeling helpless or overwhelmed. It has trained wellbeing advisors who you can talk to. These are people who have lived through difficulties themselves, and can relate to how you are feeling. You can book in advance if you would like to, but no appointment is necessary – you can just drop in.

You can also get support from Solent NHS Trust mental health staff and be put in touch with organisations for help with practical problems you may be facing, like debt. Call 023 9282 4795 or visit the PositiveMinds website.

Talking Change are a team of psychotherapists and researchers who specialise in the understanding and treatment of common emotional difficulties.

If you’ve been struggling with low mood or anxiety, or with a physical condition such as chronic pain or fatigue, our talking therapies can help you cope and feel better. We also provide support at work, and help towards finding employment or training.

We offer a free and confidential service, and we can see you in medical practices all over Portsmouth. You can access Talking Change if you’re aged sixteen or over, if you live in Portsmouth and you’re registered with a doctor in the city.

You can self-refer by calling 0300 123 3934 or by visiting our website.

The Harbour is a remote, out of hours service for those at crisis point who need urgent mental health support. It’s for anyone over the age of 18 in Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport, Havant and East Hampshire.

The team is made up of people who have experienced mental health challenges and have used local health services, so understand and can really help you in your time of crisis. As well as giving you immediate support, we can get you next working day appointments to help with your ongoing recovery at our Wellbeing Centres or other mental support services such as Positive Minds.

The Harbour is available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 4.30pm to 11pm on 07418 364911. If people feel uncomfortable on the phone, they can also text, web chat or use video calls to access the service.

You can talk to Mind to get information on things like:

• types of mental health problem

• where to get help
• medication and alternative treatments

They will also look for details of help and support in your local area. Contact them 9am – 6pm Monday-Friday (except bank holidays)

Call: 0300 123 3393
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Text: 86463

Every Mind Matters provides useful resources to help you spot the signs of common mental health concerns, offering practical self-care tips and guidance, and explains when to seek further support. There is a free NHS-approved online tool, which helps you build an action plan to deal with stress and anxiety, boost your mood, improve your sleep and help you feel more in control. Visit Every Mind Matters.

The Rethink Mental Illness Advice Service offers practical help on issues such as the Mental Health Act, community care, welfare benefits, debt, criminal justice and carers rights. They also offer general help on living with mental illness, medication, care and treatment.

Call 0300 5000 927 weekdays 9.30am – 4pm.

If you’re struggling with an eating disorder, Beat can help. Call their Helpline 0808 801 0677, 4-10pm daily, or email help@b-eat.co.uk

GetSelfHelp.co.uk has proven self-help resources on a wide range of mental health problems.

OCD UK helps people affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Call 0845 120 3778, weekdays 9am – 5pm or email support@ocduk.org

• NHS Mental Health apps – tested apps and online tools that support your mental health
• Living Life to the Full – Free online courses covering low mood and stress
• Moodscope – provides a way to monitor and record your daily activities and mood levels. There’s a light version which is free.
• Helpguide.org – helps you to better mental and emotional health through free guides and tools on a wide range of topics like loss, sleep, stress and relationship break-ups
• Self-help apps on GetSelfHelp.co.uk – find a useful list of CBT apps that you can access on different phones
• Five Ways To Wellbeing – the New Economics Foundation has developed five practical ways to keep yourself mentally well. 

• The Central Library in Guildhall Square has a Wellbeing Zone on the first floor with information on emotional wellbeing. You can also find reading well collections in Portsmouth libraries containing self-help and mood boosting books.
• The Independence and Wellbeing team offer a range of social groups and activities that can help you avoid feeling lonely.
• The Carers Centre offers a variety of support for carers, including those who look after someone with a mental illness.
• Southsea Sangha is an open and welcoming meditation group.
• Southsea Mindfulness offer taster sessions, courses and retreats in mindfulness – a way of paying attention so that we can see clearly what is happening from moment to moment (i.e sensations, thoughts, and emotions) and can then respond better to the demands of life and the challenges that we may face.
• Gardening and growing food can be a way to boost mental wellbeing and the city has 1400 allotments at 11 sites as well as a community one and community orchard.
• KROMA is a group for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and alternative (LGBT+) communities and can support with mental health. They meet every Saturday from 11am – 1pm in Costa Coffee next to Portsmouth and Southsea train station.
• The Learning Place in Derby Road, North End, runs a variety of courses that can help you meet new people, learn new skills – or improve existing ones, or take up a new hobby. Many courses are free. Visit the Learning Place Facebook page or contact them to find out more: thelearningplace@portsmouthcc.gov.uk / 02392 621860.
• Portsmouth Interaction uses fitness and other leisure activities to help improve your wellbeing.
• If money worries are getting you down, you can find lots of advice on our money advice page.

You can find more information about mental health support on our mental wellbeing page.