Mental health is about how we think, feel and act. It affects how we handle stress, get on with others and make healthy choices. Good mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood to adulthood.
At South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, we offer services for children, young people and adults across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
What other services do we provide?
The Sunderland Psychiatric Liaison Team works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We see people in the hospital who need help with their mental health. This includes people who self-harm, feel suicidal, or have mental health problems linked to older age, such as dementia or delirium.
We also support children under 18 in the paediatric emergency department and on the children’s wards. This part of the service runs from 8am to 9pm, every day of the week.
We provide outpatient clinics for people with long-term health problems, ongoing physical symptoms or those who need support after self-harm.
Our team gives mental health training to hospital staff and helps shape mental health policies. We are a large team made up of doctors, nurses, support workers, a psychologist, a research assistant, a pharmacist, admin staff and a peer support worker.
Contact us: 0191 541 0145
What other support is available?
If a person’s mental or emotional state gets worse quickly, this can be referred to as a mental health crisis or a mental health emergency. If this happens, it is important to get help quickly.
A mental health crisis can mean different things to different people, but often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. It can cause a significant disruption to your life and your ability to function.
You should call NHS 111 and select option 2 for crisis mental health support if you are worried about:
- thoughts about your life not being worth living or about harming yourself
- feeling out of control or unable to cope
- feeling anxious about leaving the house
- hearing voices or seeing things that others can’t
If you or someone else has physically harmed themselves, or if their life is at risk, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call NHS 111 and select option 2 for 24/7 access to crisis mental health support.
To help you get the support you need, you will speak to a mental health advisor who will ask you some questions and listen to you. They can offer self-care advice and signposting over the phone, transfer you to the crisis service if needed or refer you to other local services.
