If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health call the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 24/7 NHS mental health response line on 0800 038 5300. It's free to access by anyone, any age, any time, day or night.

Whether you call it stress, depression, fed up, sad, down, not feeling yourself, it's OK to not be OK.

We've got some information to help you try and turn things around. It's important that if you don't start to feel better soon, you get help from a professional.

Don't forget to have a look at our five ways to wellbeing which has some good suggestions to try and help you feel good. 

Support from a service

Your GP should be your first port of call if you're feeling worried about your mental health. You might need to tell the receptionist that you're worried about your mental health, but that's OK, they're trained to know what to do.

You can refer yourself to Outlook South West. They provide NHS funded therapy for anyone struggling with mental health. That could be stress, anxiety, PTSD, low mood or OCD. You can register online to get support from groups, or one to one meetings and ways to help yourself at home.

If your mental or emotional state gets worse fast, you’re in crisis or despair – or you’re worried about someone else – help is available. It’s important to get help quickly. Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust website has all the contact details you need for someone in a crisis in Cornwall. 

Help yourself

Distract yourself - try the Calm or Headspace apps or find a list of NHS approved apps on the NHS website.

Call the Samaritans, they aren't just for people in crisis - they are there for anyone who wants to talk about how they are feeling. It's free to call 116 123 from a landline or mobile 24/7.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) 5pm - midnight 0800 585858 or use the webchat facility on their website

Childline (for anyone under 19) free to call 0800 1111

Papyrus (for people under 35) 0800 068 4141 (Mon-Fri 10am-10pm Sat-Sun 2pm-10pm and bank holidays 2pm–5pm or text 07786 209 697

SHOUT - a new 24/7 text service for anyone who is in a crisis. Text 85258

Coping skills

You could try the following things to help you cope if you're not feeling great. It's important to remember that what works for one person might not work for another. And what works for you one day might not work on another day – so  give things a try and see what works for you.

• Exercise – walking, running, gardening, – anything that allows you to burn off some energy
• Sleep
• Watching your favourite TV show
• Watching Youtube videos
• Read a page of a book
• Breathing exercises
• Finding distractions:  Count to 100 (or backwards, or in 3s), self-care: Braid your hair/paint your nails, craft, baking, listen to audible/podcasts, listen to music (create a playlist in advance so you can choose what to hear), jigsaws, play a musical instrument – brainstorm ideas when you’re feeling quite well – things that really absorb you
• Mindfulness
• Talk to a friend
• Talk to a professional
• Take things one minute at a time (set a timer for 60 seconds – breathe, sit quietly, squats,
• Celebrate achieving small goals
• Avoiding things that make you feel worse (social media, the news, a person, a place, hangovers, parties) 
• Try the 5 ways to wellbeing  

Children and Young People

Headstart Kernow

HeadStart Kernow is a service to help develop resilience and mental well-being in young people. It is Cornwall Council-led and Big Lottery-funded. HeadStart Kernow is:

• focused on young people aged 10 – 16 as evidence clearly demonstrates that half of diagnosed lifetime mental ill-health cases begin before the age of 14, and 75% before the age of 18;
• co-produced with young people who inform and influence it and are key stakeholders;
• universal, and about prevention with targeted support;
• a  ‘Test and Learn’ programme;
• striving to achieve system change;
• doing things differently – we embrace new and innovative ways of thinking and working and people are at the forefront of what we do

Specialist Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide assessment, advice and treatment for children and young people with severe and complex mental health problems. CAMHS also provide support and advice to their families or carers.  You can find out more about the CAMHS service at Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Referrals to the CAMHS services are via the Early Help Hub. 

Make a plan to help you if things start to get worse

A Mental Health Safety Plan is a preventative tool designed to help support those who struggle with mental wellbeing. It may be difficult to think clearly when you’re feeling really low, or feel incredibly overwhelmed, and it may be difficult to ignore these feelings. Safety plans are best created when not in crisis. 

By having a safety plan, you’re making sure that there are strategies you can use to keep yourself safe and can help you feel more in control when everything feels out of control. Think of your safety plan as your ‘mental health first-aid kit’; it includes different things that will help you through a crisis.

For more information about Safety Planning and to download your Mental Health Safety Plan please visit our Mental Health Safety Plan page.