Getting support over the summer
Getting support over the summer
We know the summer can be a difficult time for many SEND families, with reduced support, changes to routines, and stretched budgets.
If you or your child are struggling over the summer, here’s where to go for help:
I need help right now with a mental health emergency
For my child
If you require immediate support for your child you can:
- contact your child’s GP or 111
- call CAMHS on 0300 3040061 (Brighton & Hove) or the Single Point of Access 01323 464222 (East Sussex)
- out of hours call the Sussex Mental Healthline on 0300 500 0101 (open 24 hours)
- in a life threatening situation call 999 or go to A&E
For myself
If you need immediate support for yourself you can:
- contact your GP or 111
- out of hours call the Sussex Mental Healthline on 0300 500 0101 (open 24 hours)
- contact the Samaritans on 116 123 (open 24 hours)
- in a life threatening situation call 999 or go to A&E
I’m worried about my child’s emotional and mental health
Local helplines and support
Please note: these are all advice and support services, not crisis lines. If you require immediate support see above.
Schools Wellbeing Service [Brighton & Hove]
The SWS consultation line will be available throughout the summer to offer advice, guidance and just a person to talk to. They can also refer you to different activities taking place within communities to support wellbeing. The line will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 25 July to 31 August.
Please email the summer holiday consultation line with your name and phone number, and a brief outline of your concerns. Or call 01273-293481 leaving your name, your child’s name, and a contact number. A Primary Mental Health Worker will call you back. They aim to call back within two days, but ask for your patience in times of high demand.
You can find a list of planned groups, workshops and activities over the summer from Schools Wellbeing here.
CLASS+ Helpline [East Sussex]
The CLASS+ (Communication, Learning and Autism Support Service) team advice line is open to offer advice and support for parents and carers throughout the holidays. The CLASS+ advice line is open Mondays from 10am to 1pm. Give them a call on 01273 336887. Throughout the week, you can still ring in to the same number and leave your details with a member of the ISEND admin team and the CLASS+ team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
Therapy One Point [East Sussex]
CITES Therapy One Point (TOP) is the single point of access for advice and support on anything to do with speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy (including adaptations) and
ChatHealth [Brighton & Hove and East Sussex]
ChatHealth confidential texting service for young people aged 11-19 is available as normal. Text the school health team about any concerns or health issues on 07507 332473 [East Sussex] or 07480 635423 [Brighton & Hove]. The number is monitored Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm in Brighton, or 9am to 5pm in East Sussex.
Shout text messaging service [Sussex]
Anyone who is feeling low or struggling to cope can text SUSSEX to 85258 for free, confidential support at any time of day or night. This service, in partnership with Shout, is anonymous and won’t show up on your phone bill. Trained volunteers offer real-time support to people who are struggling, and help get them to get to a calmer place. They can also signpost texters to to local services in Sussex. To learn more, watch this short video about Shout text message support.
Amaze SENDIASS [Brighton & Hove and East Sussex]
The Amaze SENDIASS advice line is open as usual through the summer. We continue to offer information, advice and support for parent carers and to young people with SEND. Please call us on 01273 772289 or email [email protected] to get advice on mental health or other health issues, or about education, social care or anything else you may need. Please note, all calls go straight to voicemail, please leave your contact details, including your address, and we’ll get back to you. We aim to respond within five working days but this may be longer at busy times. Please let us know if you have a deadline we should be aware of.
NHS mental health services
Please note: these are support services, not crisis lines. If you require immediate support see above.
Brighton & Hove
The NHS Wellbeing Service offers online video or face to face appointments for children and young people who are experiencing mental health or emotional difficulties. Find out what the Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service does and how to self-refer. This is also the route for new referrals to the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Brighton & Hove if you think your child may now need that level of specialist help.
For mental health emergencies call CAMHS duty care on 0300 3040061, the Sussex Mental Healthline on 0300 500 0101 (open 24 hours), or in a life threatening situation call 999.
East Sussex
CAMHS in East Sussex offers support to children and young people who are experiencing mental health or emotional difficulties.
If your child is not already being seen by CAMHS but you think they now need that level of mental health support you need to contact your child’s GP or the Single Point of Advice on 01323 464222 (East Sussex), who deal with all new referrals to CAMHS in East Sussex.
For mental health emergencies out of hours call the Sussex Mental Healthline on 0300 500 0101, or in a life threatening situation call 999.
School Health One Point [East Sussex]
For information about health issues, including mental health, call School Health One Point (SHOP) on 0300 123 4062 or text your school nurse on 07507 332473.
SHOP is NHS East Sussex School Health Service’s contact point for parents, carers, professionals and secondary-school aged young people. The text message service is for parents and carers of children of aged five to 19 years, and also young people aged between 11 and 19 years. You can also find a range of information on health topics, including mental health, on the School Health website.
Resources
You can also find resources to support your child’s mental health and wellbeing on the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website:
Support for young people
Please note: these are support services, not crisis lines. If you require immediate support see above.
E-wellbeing website [Brighton & Hove and East Sussex]
Young people (13-25) can use the e-wellbeing website. It is an accessible guide to the mental health services available to young people in Sussex. It will also help them identify self help resources relevant to how they are feeling at the moment.
i-rock advice and support [East Sussex]
14-25 year olds living in East Sussex can access support through i-rock, which offers advice and support on emotional and mental wellbeing, The service offers a virtual drop-in between 11am to 6pm Monday to Friday. They also offer a limited number of face to face appointments. If you have questions, email [email protected].
Southdown Staying Well Space [East Sussex and Brighton & Hove]
The Staying Well Space (SWS) is an out-of-hours mental health crisis prevention service, provided at The Wellbeing Hub at Preston Park in Brighton and their Eastbourne and Hastings (St Leonards-On-Sea) Wellbeing Centres. It is a free service for adults with urgent mental health support needs aged 16+ in East Sussex, or 18+ in Brighton & Hove.
Please note, the service is not a drop-in service and requires a referral first – you can download a referral form on their website. Urgent referrals to the service can be made by calling 0800 0236475 during their opening hours. You can find their opening hours for each location listed on their website – they open some time between 3pm and 5.30pm depending on location and day, and are open until 10.30pm every day.
School Health One Point [East Sussex]
For information about health issues, including mental health, call School Health One Point (SHOP) on 0300 123 4062 or use their confidential text messaging service on 07507 332473.
These services are for young people aged 11 and 19 years, and also for parent carers. You can also find a range of information on health topics, including mental health, on the School Health website.
Resources
You can also find mental health resources for young people on the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website.
I need support with my own wellbeing as a parent carer
Local helplines and support
Please note, these are all advice and support services, not crisis lines, unless otherwise stated. If you need immediate support, see above.
Amaze SENDIASS [Brighton & Hove and East Sussex]
The Amaze SENDIASS advice line is open as usual through the summer. We continue to offer information, advice and support for parent carers and to young people with SEND. We are not a mental health service but we can signpost to services and groups that may be helpful to you, as well as giving advice on issues to do with your child’s needs. Please call us on 01273 772289 or email [email protected] to get advice on health, education, social care or anything else SEND related.
Please note, all calls go straight to voicemail, please leave your contact details, including your address, and we’ll get back to you. We aim to respond within five working days but this may be longer at busy times. Please let us know if you have a deadline we should be aware of.
Sussex Mental Health Line [Brighton & Hove and East Sussex]
If you are concerned about your own mental health (or someone else’s), you can contact the Sussex Mental Health Line. Call 111 and select option 2, or dial 0800 0309 500. Hearing or speech impaired callers using Text Relay or New Generation Text can call 0300 5000 101.
This service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is run by Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust and can give direct support for mental wellbeing and signpost you to other services appropriate for your needs. This service can offer crisis support.
Mind in Brighton & Hove [Brighton & Hove]
This charity offers advice and information around mental health issues, and can signpost you to other services that may be able to help. Call them on 01273 66 69 50 and leave your contact details if you’d like to speak with an advisor, or email [email protected].
Shout text messaging service [Sussex]
If you’re feeling low or struggling to cope, text SUSSEX to 85258 for free, confidential support at any time of day or night. This service, in partnership with Shout, is anonymous and won’t show up on your phone bill. Trained volunteers offer real-time support to people who are struggling, and help get them to get to a calmer place. They can also signpost texters to to local services in Sussex. To learn more, watch this short video about Shout text message support.
Contact – Listening Ear [UK-wide]
Contact’s free Listening Ear service offers one to one telephone appointments with a family support adviser for parent carers looking for a listening ear, reassurance and practical and emotional support. Whilst not a local helpline, we felt this service was worth including.
Southdown Staying Well Space [East Sussex and Brighton & Hove]
The Staying Well Space (SWS) is an out-of-hours mental health crisis prevention service, provided at The Wellbeing Hub at Preston Park in Brighton and their Eastbourne and Hastings (St Leonards-On-Sea) Wellbeing Centres. It is a free service for adults with urgent mental health support needs aged 16+ in East Sussex, or 18+ in Brighton & Hove.
Please note, the service is not a drop-in service and requires a referral first – you can download a referral form on their website. Urgent referrals to the service can be made by calling 0800 0236475 during their opening hours. You can find their opening hours for each location listed on their website – they open some time between 3pm and 5.30pm depending on location and day, and are open until 10.30pm every day.
NHS mental health services
Please note, these are support services, not crisis lines. If you need immediate support, see above.
Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service [Brighton & Hove]
Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service offers different types of talking therapies, including workshops and courses, guided online therapy, and some one-to-one support for particular problems.
You can download a form on their website to self-refer, or call them for a paper form. Alternatively speak to your GP and they can refer you.
Health in Mind [East Sussex]
Health in Mind is a free NHS service for anyone in East Sussex experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties. They currently offer support via video or telephone, or through online courses. They are also able to offer some face to face appointments where necessary. Self-refer via their website, or ask your GP to refer you.
Every Mind Matters
You can also find resources to support your mental health and wellbeing on the Every Mind Matters website.
Practical help
cost of living information
Find information on support available to help during the cost of ilving crisis:
free or discounted food and activities
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
The Department for Education-funded HAF programme will be running this summer, with groups and organizations offering food and activities for school-aged children and young people. The activities are free for families who receive benefits-related free schools meals, or are involved with Children’s Services.
Compass and i-go leisure discount cards
The Compass leisure discount card is for young people aged 0 to 25 with significant special educational needs and disabilities in Brighton & Hove, run by Amaze. There is an equivalent card in East Sussex (not run by Amaze) called the i-go card.
You can use these cards at loads of fun places like swimming pools, leisure centres, cinemas, bowling, theatres, escape rooms, museums and more, to get special deals and discounts.
Find out more:
Free or discounted food
Money Saving Central have compiled a list of places where kids eat free (or for £1) during the summer holidays:
(click to view larger)
If you’re struggling and need advice and support, or want more information about how to find help, contact the Amaze SENDIASS advice line on 01273 772289 or email [email protected].
Please note, all calls go straight to voicemail, please leave your contact details, including your address, and we’ll get back to you. We aim to respond within five working days but this may be longer in busy times. Please let us know if you have a deadline we should be aware of.
