Health and Wellbeing Service
About the service
The Health and Wellbeing Service (also known as ‘Screen and Intervene’) is a specialist social prescribing service, working in partnership with GP practices and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust across Sussex.
We support people with a serious mental illness (SMI) diagnosis including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis. We can also support people with a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD) as long as they are on the GP SMI register.
NHS Physical Health Checks (PHC) and how we help:
People with SMIs are eligible to attend a free annual NHS Physical Health Check (PHC). These checks are carried out by GPs and/or healthcare practitioners at a GP surgery and are designed to look at different aspects of a person’s health (including blood pressure, mental health, diabetes, sexual health, oral health and much more).
PHCs can help people to get the support needed to improve their physical and mental health and connect to other community services.
Evidence shows that many people with SMIs do not take up their annual PHC and are at increased risk of long-term health problems and experience health inequality.
Our service aims to increase people’s engagement with their PHC and improve people’s health and wellbeing following their PHC appointment.
How the service works
There are times when we all need support to address life’s challenges and knowing how to access local support can make a big difference. Addressing difficult issues for people with serious mental illness needs extra time and support.
Southdown’s small team of Health & Wellbeing Advisors work specifically with people following their Physical Health Check, helping them to develop personalised health and wellbeing improvement plans.
Health & Wellbeing Advisors offer face-to-face and remote support in a range of community settings, including GP practices across Sussex.
Eligibility
Support is available for people aged 18 or over, who have an SMI diagnosis and are registered with a GP.
Referrals
Professionals: Referrals for this service are made directly by healthcare professionals (GP practice staff, SPFT staff, Social Prescribers, Southdown Services, or other providers offering Physical Health Checks).
- To refer a client in Brighton & Hove click here.
- To refer a client in East Sussex click here.
- To refer a client in West Sussex click here.
If you have any questions, please get in touch with us using the contact details at the top of this page.
Clients: If you feel you would benefit from our support and meet the eligibility criteria above, please contact your GP to ask them to make a referral for you.