Mental Health

Is the way that you’re feeling affecting your daily life? Are you struggling to cope, feeling low, anxious or overwhelmed by your thoughts or feelings? Are you living with a health condition that is making you tired, frustrated and worried? Are you worried about someone else?

You’re not alone and we can help.

Support is available

About Mental Health

Local Services

Help in a Crisis

Mental Health Services Directory

NHS Services

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)	Plymouth Options offers a range of services to people experiencing common mental health problems to people who are 16 years+ and registered with a Plymouth GP.	Livewell: IAPT
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)	The role of CAMHS is to promote the mental health and psychological well-being of children and young people from 5 to 18 years. A referral to CAMHS can come from parents/carers, a teacher, GP or young person.	Livewell:CAMHS
Perinatal Mental Health	A service for new and expectant mums in Plymouth struggling with their mental health for specialist perinatal assessment and treatment for their mental health in pregnancy and up to a year after their babies birth.	Livewell: Perinatal

Other Support Services

Family Matters	Family Matters offers Family therapy (Family and Systemic Psychotherapy) and aims to help people in close relationships, such as families or couples, to develop understanding and deal more effectively with the problems they are experiencing.
Headscount	Heads count is a user led network for people who access mental health services, carers and everyone experience of or affected by mental health matters in and around the city of Plymouth.
Harbour	Harbour is a Plymouth based substance misuse charity providing support for people with complex lives
Plymouth's Young Carers (POD)	Plymouth’s Young Carers Support Hub provides useful information and links to help our Young Carers provide amazing support to their friends, family and relatives.
Hub of Hope	The Hub of Hope helps you to search local mental health charities where you live. You can use filters to select the age required and search for specific concerns. It’s run by a national charity called Chasing the Stigma.
The Zone	The Zone is a charity which provides free and confidential information and support to young people 13 – 25 year olds. Offering emotional support and information around housing, sexual health and mental health.
Carers UK	Carers UK offers guidance on how to look after yourself, too, so that you can be stronger and more resilient for those you look after or the person you care for.
Sunflower Women's Centre	Provided by Trevi, Sunflower is a trauma-informed women’s wellbeing hub, providing opportunities for any woman in need. It offers women a space to breathe, belong and gain skills, confidence and self-care to move on in their lives.
Intercom Trust	Intercom Trust are a LGBT+ charity providing a advice, guidance, counselling, support, training and advocacy. They have their own confidential helpline which is staffed by those who are of the LGBT+ community themselves

Feeling a bit down?

Some simple tips from us

Blue Mondays

Rumour has it that the third Monday of January is the ‘most depressing day of the year’. But in fact, we can all experience difficulty with our mental health at any time of the year. The science around a ‘Blue Monday’ is unconvincing but that doesn’t make how you feel any less valid.

Blue Monday might not be a real thing, but poor mental health definitely is.

15 tips to prioritise your health and wellbeing

Blue Monday this year was on Jan 15th 2024, so we put together 15 tips that might help you prioritise your health and wellbeing; and ensure that you are able to take some time out today, or any day for that matter, to focus on you:

Talk to someone who makes you feel safe. This could be family, a friend, a neighbour or a professional. Sometimes just a chat can make you feel much better.
Work on your sleep routine. Sleep is important to wellbeing and structure can help. There’s nothing wrong with having a set bedtime!
We can’t expect miracles of ourselves. You’re not a superhero, it’s hard to meet life’s demands sometimes. On any given day, our best is enough, and our best is different on different days; that’s okay, that is normal.
Celebrate your wins! Write down 3 things you’ve achieved today, even if that’s ‘just’ getting out of bed, facing the day can be enough of an achievement.
Just breathe. Breathe in slowly through the nose to the count of 3, then exhale through the mouth to the count of 6. (Be careful with breathing exercises is you’re pregnant or have health risks!)
Blow away the cobwebs. Spend a bit of time outside for fresh air and daylight, and with the long nights, maybe consider if you are getting enough Vitamin D.
Set some little goals for your day to help with sense of purpose. Water the plants, walk the dog, finish that jigsaw, whatever works for you.
Eat regular and healthy meals to ensure your body is well fuelled. Finding the time to eat well can often be really difficult. If you have times when you’re feeling well and enjoying preparing food, try making some extra meals to store.
Try mindfulness apps on your phone, they can provide really useful techniques.
Make a Mental Health First Aid Kit. Keep some of your favourite things in a box for the really rough days. Break out that good coffee, a feel-good book, the hidden chocolate, a face mask or craft kit to treat yourself, and maybe add details for Mental health helplines just in case.
Make time for your favourite things, If something helps you relax, try to fit it into your day. Some people find art, walking, or a bath can help
If you find that being on your phone or computer a lot is making you feel busier and more stressed, try to take a break. Give yourself a digital detox for an hour or so. (Be careful not to isolate yourself though!)
Look after yourself. Self-care and hygiene, like brushing your teeth or having a shower can be hard sometimes, but it is important for your health and can help you feel better. If you’re really struggling, try to start small and work your way up, like freshening up with baby wipes or a chewable toothbrush.
Try to avoid drugs and alcohol. You might feel like using drugs or alcohol to cope with any difficult feelings. But in the long run they can make you feel much worse. Mind has some helpful information on recreational drugs and alcohol
Write yourself a love letter. When you’re feeling good, think about what you would want to tell your future self if things get tough and you find you need more support. Reminding yourself of what’s keeping you positive right now can help you through more difficult times in the future.