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Sheffield Mental Health Services: Explained

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health. This guide helps explain the support available in Sheffield and how to access it — whether it’s your first time seeking help or you’re looking for more specialist care. You can read this guide below or download it in English, Urdu or Somali.

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Sheffield Mental Health Services: Explained

It can take time to find the right help that will work for your mental health as everyone is different and needs different kinds of support. The more you can find out about what support is available and how it works, the easier it will be to access the right help for you. If you’re experiencing mental health issues for the first time, you may also find the system confusing.

However you’re feeling, this guide provides a brief overview of the different types of support on offer and how to access it.

How to get help in the community

If you are worried about your mental health, there are many organisations that provide different kinds of help and support within the community, including support such as specialist counselling, peer support groups, creative activities and services for minoritised communities. You can often access these services without a referral.

Examples of emotional wellbeing and mental health support for children, young people and adults in Sheffield include:

  • Kooth: a free, online counselling service, discussion forums and information on emotional wellbeing and mental health for children and young people aged 10-25.
  • Door 43: supporting 13–25-year-olds on a range of emotional wellbeing issues including a drop-in, one to one support and wellbeing café.
  • NHS  Sheffield Talking Therapies: an option for people with more common mental health problems such as anxiety disorders and depression. You can self-refer to this and a GP appointment is not necessary.
  • Age UK Sheffield: supporting older people in Sheffield, particularly those who are vulnerable or isolated, through free information and advice, independent living services, cancer support and at-home assistance.

A good way of finding out more about the support on offer, including contact details, is through the Sheffield Mental Health Guide.

Tel: 0114 2737009          Web: https://www.sheffieldmentalhealth.co.uk/

Other Ways to Support Your Mental Health

  • Call, email or LiveChat with the Sheffield Mental Health Guide to talk through options. Services on the Guide are really varied, offering talking therapies, group activities, helplines and more. Some services also focus on specific issues, for example alcoholism, domestic abuse, and housing issues.
  • You might want to think about your lifestyle. Making small changes to how you eat, sleep, drink, communicate and live your life can make a massive difference to your day to day mental health and wellbeing.
  • If you’re working or a student, there may be support options available to you through your employer or educational institution.
  • If you are able to afford it, there are support options available through the private sector, for example independent counsellors.
  • If you are religious or spiritual it may be helpful to speak to faith leaders, such as your local Priest, Rabbi or Iman.
  • Understanding the feelings you are experiencing can be really helpful. National Mind have some excellent guides on different mental health issues.
  • Call on your support network– it’s important where possible to let your friends and family know what you’re going through.
  • Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust have a page with useful self help resources that you can use based on how you are feeling.

How to Get Help from the NHS

  • If you feel you need more support, your GP (doctor) may be the best person to speak to first. Your GP will discuss with you the support they think you need. They may diagnose you if they think you’re experiencing a common mental health problem like depression or anxiety, you may be prescribed medication or talking therapy, or they may refer you to a specialist (e.g. a psychiatrist or psychologist.
  • Primary and Community Mental Health Teams are an option for people with severe mental health problems who are willing and able to commit to support within their local area. This would be accessed by your GP.
  • If you already have a Mental Health worker, or Care Coordinator in Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust you should contact them Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm directly through their switchboard on 0114 2716310 if you do not have their direct number.
  • If a child or young person already has a Mental Health Worker or Care Coordinator in Sheffield Children’s Foundation Trust CAMHS, you should contact them Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm directly through Beighton Community CAMHS on 0114 3053106 or Centenary CAMHS on 0114 305 3218 or email [email protected]

Crisis Mental Health Support and Treatment

  • If you feel unsafe, distressed or worried about your mental health and feel you need to speak to someone urgently then you can call NHS 111 and select the mental health option to speak to a mental health professional in Sheffield. They can offer you advice over the phone or put you in touch with crisis services. There are options available for children, young people and adults.
  • If you are over the age of 16, you might also like to visit the Sheffield Support Hub that provide emotional, social and practical support if you are in crisis or feel you are heading toward a crisis situation, in a welcoming, comfortable, non-judgmental, and non-clinical environment.
  • Sheffield Flourish’s My Toolkit is a digital tool where you can create your own confidential space to put together ideas, services, and activities that interest you and support your mental health.
  • You could also consider how you could plan for a mental health crisis. National Mind have more information on planning what you could do if you start to feel in crisis in the future, and what kind of support you think you might want.
  • The Sheffield Suicide Support and Prevention website has information and help for anyone who is suicidal.
  • You could also consider how you plan for a mental health crisis. Developing a Safety Plan can help you to capture anything that will help you to stay safe, such as coping mechanisms, support networks (both personal and professional), any risks which may need removing, distractions and more. Safety plans can be found on the Sheffield Suicide Support and Prevention website.
  • You could also text Shout on 85258, the UK’s free, confidential and 24/7 mental health text service for crisis support.
  • The Samaritans can be contacted on 0114 2767277 or telephone freephone 116 123. They are open Monday to Sunday 10am to 8pm and can also be contacted by email, [email protected] although the response to emails may be several days later.
  • If you are concerned about the immediate personal safety, or are concerned about self-harm for you or another person who is over the age of 16 , you can call 999 or attend A&E at the Northern General Hospital, and been seen by the 24 hour Mental Health Liaison Team. If you are under the age of 16 you can attend the A&E department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Specialist Mental Health Support and Treatment

Specialist mental health support includes specific teams that are specialised to support people with severe mental health problems who have a higher level of need, for example:

Most adult specialist services are delivered by the NHS provider Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust, the clinical mental health specialists in Sheffield. Sheffield Children’s Foundation Trust offers specialist mental health support for children and young people up until the age of 18. These are specialist services, they have limited resource and capacity, so you may be placed on a waiting list.

Unpaid Carers

You may be supporting someone else with their mental health in an unpaid capacity, which is often referred to as being a ‘carer’. It can be a very positive and rewarding experience helping someone else, however, it can also be difficult and upsetting at times. In Sheffield there are specialist services, organisations and peer groups available that specialise in supporting carers, including the Sheffield Carers Centre. The Epic Friends website also has some useful information about how to support your friends.

Please visit the Sheffield Mental Health Guide for more information.

For young carers aged 8-25 support is available at Sheffield Young Carers.

Direct Payments

If you are receiving support through Sheffield social care then you may be entitled to receive direct payments. These are cash payments that you can use to pay for things that would support your mental health, such as personal care and daytime activities.

For more information visit: sheffield.gov.uk/social-care/adults/direct-payments-managing-your-care

Overcoming Barriers and Finding Advocacy

It may be difficult talking to your GP about your mental health issues, or it may be hard to make a decision about next steps. Once you’re in the care of specialist services, you may find you need to work to get your needs heard. But there is help and support available to you if you are experiencing barriers, including advocates who can support you in getting the help you need through the Sheffield Advocacy Hub at Citizens Advice.

Other challenges

Mental health issues are often made worse (and caused by) other problems in our lives. And of course, when we aren’t feeling good it’s much harder to manage with day-to-day challenges. It’s worth getting help if you’re experiencing money worries, housing issues, relationship challenges or work issues, make sure you try and get some help and support.

A good staring point would be to visit the Sheffield Directory.

Neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD are not mental health conditions. However, being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world can lead to challenges that may increase the risk of stress, anxiety or depression. The Adult Autism and ADHD Support Hub provides a safe and easily accessible space for people aged 16+, where you can be listened to and meet individuals who might be experiencing the same things. You have a choice of how you can receive support from staff, and this can be in group sessions or either face-to-face, phone calls, email or video consultation.

Safeguarding

Abuse can happen to anyone, but the impact of poor mental health can increase people’s vulnerability to abuse and exploitation. Safeguarding means protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights. If you are concerned that you or someone you know is being abused, neglected or at risk of abuse or neglect, then you should report this to Sheffield City Council by calling 0114 2734908.

For more information visit: https://sheffieldasp.org.uk/sasp/sasp

We’re here

Sheffield Flourish are here weekdays 9-5pm to talk through support options in Sheffield: 0114 273 7009, [email protected]. However, please note that we are unable to provide urgent support or advice, but we can signpost you to the support or services we think might help.

If you need to speak to someone urgently then call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option.

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