Mental Health, wellbeing and employment support
Southdown provides mental health and employment support across Sussex, helping people improve their wellbeing, build connections and work towards what matters to them.
We recognise you as a whole person, with your own strengths, experiences and hopes for the future. We work alongside you to understand what you need and support you to make choices about your next steps.
Our services offer support with a range of needs, from managing everyday wellbeing to finding or staying in work while experiencing mental health difficulties.
We also lead UOK, a partnership of community organisations supporting mental health and wellbeing across Brighton & Hove and East Sussex.
Together with NHS services, local authorities and other partners, we work to make support easier to find and access, and better connected around each person.
Not sure where to start?
You do not need to understand the mental health system or know the name of the service you need before asking for help:
You don’t need to understand the mental health system or know the name of a service before asking for help. The Sussex-wide How Are You Really Feeling? resource helps you explore support based on how you’re feeling and what you need.
It has been co-developed by the NHS, voluntary and community organisations—including Southdown—local authorities, primary care and people with lived experience.
Explore our support
Find out what each service offers, who it is for and how to access it.
Availability and access routes vary by service and location.
UOK Wellbeing Service
Free mental health and wellbeing support for adults aged 18 and over living in Brighton & Hove or East Sussex. Support includes one-to-one conversations, peer groups, community activities and learning opportunities.
You do not need a diagnosed mental health condition. You can get started at a Walk-in Welcome Session without an appointment or book a Saturday telephone appointment.
Mental health and employment support
Explore our other services, including Recovery College, Lighthouse, Staying Well and employment support for people experiencing mental health difficulties.
Find support with your recovery, learning and confidence, as well as finding or staying in work. Each service page explains where support is available and how to access it.
Real stories
The difference support can make
They saved my life
A person we support shares how Southdown’s wellbeing, Staying Well and employment services supported them through a difficult time and helped them find a new direction in work.
Explore more about us
Dive deeper into how we work, who leads us, and how we perform:
Housing support
Safe, secure homes and tailored support to help people sustain their tenancies and live well.
Find out moreLearning disability support
Person-centred support for over 160 people across Sussex to live with dignity and independence.
Find out moreHow we work
Our values, the Southdown Beacon, and how we involve clients and tenants in shaping our services.
Find out more