Healthy Conversations - Let's talk mental health

Mental health affects how we think, feel and connect with others. It influences our relationships, how we handle stress and change, and our sense of purpose and belonging.

Talking about mental health helps break stigma, builds understanding, and can make a real difference when someone is struggling.

The Healthy Conversations campaign encourages everyone to start open and honest conversations about how they’re feeling - and to reach out for support when it’s needed.

What the data tells us

The Health Counts 2024 survey - the city’s largest-ever health and wellbeing survey - highlights some important trends in how people across Brighton & Hove are feeling:

• More people reported feeling lonely and anxious than ten years ago.
• Only 56% of adults in the most deprived areas rated their health as “good or better,” compared with 76% in the least deprived areas.
• Nearly one in four (24%) recorded a low happiness score, and 9% said they had self-harmed in the past year.
• Many residents said they don’t feel a strong sense of belonging in their community, or lack regular social contact.

These findings show that mental health is shaped not only by personal experiences, but also by social connection, neighbourhood, and environment.

For this month’s Healthy Conversations campaign, we will be focusing on key topics linked to mental health.

Loneliness and isolation

Feeling lonely is not just about being alone - it’s about feeling disconnected. People of all ages in Brighton & Hove can sometimes feel isolated, particularly older residents, carers, people living with disabilities, young adults and people living in more deprived neighbourhoods.

Loneliness can affect our mood, confidence, and physical health. But small acts, like a chat with a neighbour, checking in with a friend, or volunteering can make a big difference can make a big difference.

Together Co is a local social health and loneliness charity, connecting people through befriending, social prescribing, and volunteering services, to create a society where everyone feels like they belong.

Men’s mental health

Men can face particular challenges when it comes to talking about emotions or asking for help. Cultural expectations and stigma can make it harder to speak up, but doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Through Healthy Conversations, we’re encouraging men across Brighton & Hove to reach out, talk, and listen - whether that’s with friends, family, or one of the city’s many support services.

In Brighton & Hove, Dad La Soul provides tailored mental health support for men (dads and male carers) through playdates, fitness programmes, and radio sessions.

The Together Against Suicide initiative developed by Samaritans, in partnership with The Premier League, aims to support fans affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts.

This film was produced by Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club and Samaritans Brighton and Hove District. Football fans in Brighton & Hove can also learn the skills and techniques for supporting people in distress through a series of online workshops.

Menopause

Menopause can bring significant changes, including physical, emotional and psychological. It’s a time when identity and sense of self may shift, and for some, it can feel isolating.

Talking about menopause and how it affects mental health helps normalise those experiences and ensures people can access the right support at the right time.

From menstruation and contraception to pregnancy, menopause, and mental wellbeing, the new Sussex Women’s Health website provides expert guidance from NHS professionals.

Get support

If you’re struggling, or worried about someone else, there’s free support available locally:

• UOK Brighton & Hove – offers mental health advice and support for adults in Brighton and Hove online, in-person and over the phone. Call UOK on 0808 196 1768 (9am - 5pm Monday to Friday)
• Brighton & Hove Wellbeing Service - free, confidential NHS service providing talking therapies for adults, children and young people in Brighton & Hove. You can self-refer online or call 0300 002 0060 (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm)
• Brighton Women’s Centre – supports self-identifying women in Sussex, providing counselling, peer-peer support, and wellbeing advice and activities.
• Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard and MindOut – mental health services for adults by and for the LGBTQ+ community.
• E-wellbeing - Sussex-wide website with advice and resources for children and young people about mental health, as well as local support services.

If someone is in crisis, you can get support in different ways depending on what you prefer. All services are free.

• If your life, or someone else’s life is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E
• Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option or the Samaritans on 116 123 (available 24/7).
• Text SUSSEX to 85258 (24/7 mental health text-messaging support service).
• Visit the Brighton Staying Well service (out-of-hours mental health crisis support service for adults)
• Call the Mental Health Rapid Response Service on 0300 304 0078 (available  for adults Monday to Friday 8am-10pm, and weekends and bank holidays 10am-10pm)

Join the conversation

Join in the Healthy Conversation campaign by having open, supportive conversations about health topics with friends, family, neighbours and colleagues and sharing Healthy Conversations campaign posts on social media.

Stay tuned for more tips, stories, and opportunities to get involved via our social media and local community spaces.