Healthy Surrey:

Healthy Surrey

Local Services

Support your mental wellbeing with this list of self or GP referral services in Surrey.

man with glasses smiling Last updated 13 May 2024.

There are a range of services in Surrey that offer support for emotional and mental wellbeing. Most of them you can self-refer to, (except specialist mental health, eating disorders and adult social care services, which need a referral from your GP/other professional). This section lists some of the services, the support offered and contact details.

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Talk to someone about the types of help available

The free and anonymous First Steps to Support phoneline can help you when life gets tough.

Talk to one of our friendly trained advisors, who can support you and guide you to the right services to lighten the load.

There's no waiting list, so contact First Steps to Support service by:

The service is open:

  • Monday 8am-3pm
  • Tuesday 9am-4pm
  • Wednesday 10am-5pm
  • Thursday 9am-7pm
    Friday 10am-2pm

If you are contacting us outside of these hours, please do leave us a message or email us dohel.firststeps.surrey@nhs.net and we will get back to you.

Please note: this helpline is not for crisis purposes, if you are in a crisis see where to get help.

Free Talking Therapies

Talking Therapies is a free confidential NHS service to support anyone over 18 years of age (who are registered in a GP in Surrey) who are experiencing mental health problems such as stress, low mood, anxiety, panic attacks, depression (including pre and postnatal), obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress and eating difficulties.

In Surrey, these services are free and you can refer yourself. The teams are experienced professionals who are here to help and will support you without judgement. They provide talking therapies, activities and workshops to support both your mental and physical wellbeing.

Financial, welfare and wellbeing support community helpline

Increases in the cost of living and energy prices, are contributing to financial hardship for many households. Having financial worries and pressures or being in debt can have a big impact on your mental wellbeing.

If you're struggling financially, help is available at both a national and local level in Surrey.

There is also more information on the SCC health and welfare support pages. You can contact or talk through your needs with a member of the SCC community helpline team and they will help to point you in the right direction for financial, welfare or wellbeing support in Surrey. Or complete the community helpline enquiry form.

  • Telephone: 0300 200 1008 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays)
  • Textphone (via Text Relay): 18001 0300 200 1008 or SMS: 07860 053 465
  • VRS: sign language video relay service
  • Telephone from overseas: +44 20 8541 9944 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays)

Community Connections - support for wellbeing delivered by local voluntary sector organisation

Community Connections offer a range of 1 to 1 and group based support and activities to help with emotional and physical wellbeing, including: coping skills, individual support and goal setting, self-development courses, interest groups, peer support, support groups and volunteering opportunities, physical wellbeing classes and activities. You can access these services yourself or ask a GP or health professional to refer you.

Virtual wellbeing - activities, sessions and support

A large range of wellbeing activities, sessions and support - available from the comfort of your own home – as well as some in person events, for example wellbeing walks and football.

Find a session. You can search for sessions by date, or by type, for example social, yoga, walk, arts.

The Recovery College

Recovery Colleges support people in their recovery through educational courses and workshops on a range of psychological, mental and physical health conditions (for example coping mechanisms, stress management, self confidence, assertiveness, healthy sleep habits, pain management, long term health conditions).

The colleges are aimed at everyone (whether they use mental health services, care for someone who does, or are a mental health professional), all you have to do is enrol. For more details on the courses and workshops available visit the Surrey Recovery College website.

Passport to Wellbeing

The Passport to Wellbeing programme offers learning opportunities for those whose mild-moderate mental health conditions are affecting their day-to-day lives. These free courses are delivered in a very supportive and nurturing environment and provide an opportunity to learn new skills, achieve and have a positive weekly focus.

Support for carers

The Adult Social Care and Support page has information about support and help available for adult and young carers. Including information and: advice on: looking after yourself, discussing you needs (carer's needs assessment), respite care to give yourself a break, financial support and other agencies offering support to carers.

Action for Carers Surrey provides a phone line 0303 040 1234 and free independent information, advice and support, (if you're new to caring, or if you've been a carer for some time). Including emotional and financial support, wellbeing events, support groups, advocacy and a moving and handling team.

Directory of local services

Connect to Support Surrey is an online directory of services under the themes of: things to do, getting around, living at home, housing and accommodation, work and money matters, community matters, looking after someone and health matters. There is also a section on mental health and the many factors that affect it, for example: financial, employment, housing and relationship issues, bereavement, and the range of community through to crisis mental health services.

For local mental health information and support services, aimed at young people, an online directory can be found at the Surrey Local Offer website.

Red Card: services offering support for difficult times

We understand that sometimes things that are going on in our lives can cause stress and anxiety, such as housing, finances or relationship problems. Here is a list of services (PDF) that can provide information, advice and support on a range of problems.

Armed forces

For those who have served in the British Armed Forces, service leavers and reservists, help for mental health and wellbeing is available from Op Courage South East.

Whether you want to speak to others who understand what it's like to adjust to civilian life or feel you need to speak to a professional about your wellbeing, the team are on hand. We apply our understanding of mental health and military life to empower you to access a wide range of services and support tailored to your situation.

You can also refer yourself online or be referred by a G.P health professional, a charity or family/friend.

More information and support for veterans and about the High Intensity Service, and the Veteran's Covenant Service.

Adult social care

Adult Social Care aims to help people stay independent, safe and well so they can live the lives they want to. This includes people who are frail, have disabilities, mental health issues as well as the people who care for them. Adult Social Care provides information and advice about care and support to all residents, offers short term help and options for longer term support if people have more complex needs.

There is a confidential information and advice service helpline 0300 200 1005 and SMS 07527 182861 and other contact methods.

There are also online assessment tools to find out if you, or someone you know can get help from Adult Social Care, or how much you will need to pay for social care.

Specialist mental health services

A range of specialist adult mental health services are provided by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust, for which you need a referral from your GP / mental health professional, including:

Community Mental Health Recovery Services (CMHRSs)

CMHRSs are teams of mental health professionals from Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Trust and Surrey County Council. They offer day-to-day support for adults aged 18 to 64 with mental ill-health. You will need to be referred by your GP.

Community Mental Health Teams for Older People (CMHTs)

CMHTs for older people are teams of mental health professionals from Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Trust and Surrey County Council. They offer support to people over the age of 65 with mental illness, cognitive function deterioration, or dementia. You will need to be referred by your GP.

Eating disorder services

Eating disorders refers to a group of conditions that are characterised by disordered eating patterns and an over-concern about weight, shape and body image. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.

Mindworks Surrey offer support and help for eating disorders to children and young people.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust offers specialist assessment and treatment for eating disorders across Surrey to those aged 18 to 65.

Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN)

If you have experience of mental ill health, or care for someone who has then you can join the Independent Mental Health Network (IMHN). It's free to join and they welcome new members.

The IMHN works with commissioners and service providers to improve services. Members can join at bi-monthly meetings, one of the Stakeholder Groups, a small discussion group, a virtual meeting group or a project group looking at a specific issue. You can just listen, you can contribute your experience and recommend improvements or even become an active advocate for the IMHN.

Bridge the Gap service

Bridge the Gap is a specialist outreach service that is funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and The National Lottery Community Fund through the Changing Futures programme in Surrey.

The service offers trauma-informed keyworker support to individuals experiencing multiple disadvantage, which is a combination of 3 or more of the following issues: substance use, homelessness or at risk of homelessness, domestic abuse, contact with the criminal justice system and mental health issues.

In most cases, individuals with such varying needs may have experienced trauma in the past and often find it difficult to engage with services or access the right support that meets their needs. Through the Bridge the Gap trauma-informed service, individuals are supported by an outreach worker who will advocate for the individual to access relevant services to meet their immediate needs and thereby lead better lives.

The support provided can also include:

  • Assistance with finding/sustaining accommodation
  • Physical and mental health care
  • Substance use and harm reduction
  • Financial arrangements including benefits applications and form filling
  • Health appointments
  • Assisting with daily living tasks
  • Referrals to other pertinent support services

Visit Changing Futures - Bridge the Gap for more information about the service.