Mental health talking therapy services are set to expand to help more people struggling with their mental health.

TalkingSpace Plus in Oxfordshire and Healthy Minds in Buckinghamshire will enlarge their services, taking on more staff and offering more appointments to the public in need of help.

The move comes as more people are expected to need free NHS mental health treatment to overcome the trauma of illness, loss of loved ones, lockdown and unemployment as a result of the Covid crisis.

News of the service expansion coincides with this week’s launch of a new two-month phase of the NHS’s Help Us Help You campaign which calls on anyone suffering from anxiety, depression or other issues to come forward for assessment and treatment.

TalkingSpace Plus and Healthy Minds already offer support for people experiencing stress, anxiety and low mood. They also offer treatment to people experiencing challenges alongside a long-term physical health condition and people experiencing difficulties at work because of mental health difficulties. Both are IAPT services (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) with TalkingSpace Plus offering support to people in Oxfordshire and Healthy Minds caring for people in Buckinghamshire.

More than 16,000 number of people in Oxfordshire seek help from TalkingSpace Plus each year.
More than 12,000 people in Buckinghamshire seek help from Healthy Minds each year.

Appointments are available over the phone or via video conferencing meaning people are able to get support from the comfort of their own homes.

Consultant Counselling Psychologist and Clinical Lead of TalkingSpace Plus Jo Ryder said: “This year has been a challenging year for many, with the coronavirus pandemic and changes to all our lives, undoubtedly putting a strain on all aspects of our lives. We know that there are many people struggling with their mental health due to the pandemic, and we encourage people to seek help”

Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Clinical lead for Healthy Minds in Buckinghamshire John Pimm said: “By expanding services we aim to care for more people and provide them with evidence-based NHS treatment which will enable them to feel better sooner, and get back to living their lives.
“We have appointments available for you now and are here to listen.”

You can self-refer to TalkingSpace Plus online or by calling 01865 901 222.

Self-refer to Bucks Healthy Minds online or by calling 01865 901 600.

For urgent mental health advice call Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Helpline 24  hours a day, seven days a week on Adults: 0800 783 0119 or Children and young people: 0800 783 0121.

Help Us Help You

People with mental health worries are being urged to seek help in a new phase of the NHS’s Help Us Help You campaign.

Although mental health services have been running throughout the pandemic there was a marked dip in referrals despite evidence that coronavirus is making problems more common.

Now a new NHS campaign will encourage anyone suffering from anxiety, depression or other issues to come forward for assessment and treatment.

NHS talking therapies, also known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), are a confidential service ran by fully trained experts.

People can access the service by visiting their GP or refer themselves online.