Delivering swift mental health support to thousands – Portsmouth Mental Health Hub turns one

Team members of the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub have today celebrated the first anniversary of the phoneline and website supporting local residents.

Since the phoneline was created in April 2023, it has handled over 3,500 calls for people aged 16 and over, where fully trained call handlers have either arranged an appointment with services such as Talking Therapies or PositiveMinds, or have offered support to connect with local organisations including HIVE Portsmouth, social support or substance misuse organisations.

• 98.9% of callers have found their phone conversation helpful
• 91.9% of callers waiting less than one minute for support on the phoneline
• 85.5% of callers would have gone to their GP or did not know where to go

The website component followed in December 2023 and has had more than 6,000 views with 1,800 people accessing the information and resource webpages available. Visitors to the site can read about local services, see interviews with people who have experienced mental health, meet the Hub team, find out more about the emotions and feelings we all experience, and crucially, where to get support and advice.

Here are some anecdotes from people who have accessed the hub:

• “Thankyou for listening and taking the time to help with a talking change referral, feel like I am on the right path to getting some help.”
• “It was nice to actually be listened to and given answers rather than someone just saying they feel bad for me.”
• “Thank you for being honest and realistic about where would support me, and not just tell me to go back to the places I've already tried.”

Hub colleagues enjoyed time together to cut an anniversary cake and reflect on the past year’s achievements.

Helen Atkinson, Chair of Health and Care Portsmouth Partnership Board and Director of Public Health and Portsmouth City Council, said: “We are immensely proud of the fact that Portsmouth Mental Health Hub has been created out of feedback directly gathered at community events, enabling us as Health and Care Portsmouth to shape meaningful and real-time support to those in need.

“Figures are telling us that people want to access mental health support in different ways, and we will be able to further tailor information and resources as we build a picture of people’s phone and website interactions with us.

“Congratulations on the hub’s first anniversary – it’s been a fantastic team effort by all Health and Care Portsmouth partners, in planning, creating and delivering the hub. Here’s to the next year!”

Abi Clarkson, Head of Access, Solent NHS Trust, said: “It’s been a tremendous 12 months, seeing members of Portsmouth communities reaching out to the hub by phone or online. Feedback from those individuals tells us it is making a difference to their mental wellbeing and importantly connecting them in a swift and simple way to onwards support and resources that they will benefit from, without the need of going through their GP first. In turn, we are helping GPs focus on prioritising patients they need to assess in clinics.

“My thanks go to everyone involved in the hub’s journey so far – I am excited to see where the next 12 months take us.”

Anyone aged 16 and over can call the hub, which is open Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm, on 0300 123 6621. Visit the website at www.mentalhealthinportsmouth.co.uk