Mental health

Mental ill-health covers a wide range of problems, from worries and grief that we all experience as part of everyday life to more serious problems, such as schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder. They can affect anyone, of any background, at any time of their life and may also have an impact on the people around them, such as family and friends.

What help do you need?

The first thing you should do is contact your GP who may refer you for further help at the surgery or to your local Community Mental Health Team, who will arrange any help or care that you might need.

The department provides a range of services for adults with a severe mental health problem, usually through a joint service with health and the voluntary sector.

There are things that you can do yourself, such as taking exercise, developing and sustaining friendships, asking for help if you feel distressed or upset and cutting down on coffee, tea, alcohol, nicotine and other addictive substances. For further information see

• Ways to look after your Mental Health

Other sources of help and information

• Older people's mental health

• Mental health advice and support groups from the e.VOLve Community Directory

• About Wellness Recovery Action (WRAP) in Hampshire

• Services for people who have been raped or sexually abused

• Mental Health information for people from BME groups

• National Service Framework for Mental Health

The New Hampshire Mental Health Strategy

Hampshire County Council Adult Services and NHS Hampshire are launching the Joint Adult Mental Health Commissioning Strategy on 6 June 2012. This strategy will support good mental health and wellbeing by commissioning services that meet the needs of all our communities. It has been developed jointly by health and social care commissioners, following extensive consultation with service users, carers, statutory, voluntary sector providers and other stakeholders, over the past two years.  

We are working together to create services, facilities and opportunities that see people as unique individuals and support their empowerment, independence and recovery. Some changes have already commenced, such as the development of hospital at home services and the commissioning of wellbeing centres, operational from September, which are designed to enable people to remain living in their communities.

Work will continue with service users, carers, GPs, providers and other stakeholders to implement other changes over the five years of the strategy.

• The Joint Hampshire Adult Mental Health Commissioning Strategy 2012-17
• The Joint Hampshire Adult Mental Health Commissioning Strategy 2012-17 Executive Summary
• No Health without mental health