Christmas and New Year can be a difficult time for many of us, with people experiencing difficulties such as low mood, stress, sadness, loneliness and anxiety. Others may feel socially isolated or may have recently been bereaved and perhaps unable to tell people how they feel.

Access Sefton provides NHS talking therapies services to people experiencing a wide range of common mild-to-moderate mental health conditions. Services include face to face or telephone consultations and workshops to people aged 16-plus who live in Sefton and are available from a number of accessible locations across the borough.

The service is delivered in partnership by Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) and Insight Healthcare on behalf of the borough’s two clinical commissioning groups, NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG.

NHS South Sefton CCG clinical lead for mental health, Dr Sue Gough, said: “Access Sefton supports people with conditions including anxiety, depression and stress, and treatments can help people develop strategies to cope better. Residents can be referred by their GP or they are able to self-refer into the service if they’d prefer.”

Ryan Forrest, Deputy Operations Manager of Access Sefton added: “We are very pleased to enable people to seek help early on, allowing them continue their day to day lives without any negative impact. Having someone to talk to, that won’t judge, tell you what to do or how to feel, can really help.”

For more information about how talking to Access Sefton can help you, call us on (0151) 955 3200, visit www.insighthealthcare.org/accesssefton or ask your GP for more information about our services.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or you know someone who is, seek immediate help or contact your GP or one of the support services that are organisations listed below:

• Samaritans - 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours)
• MIND - 0300 123 3393 (9.00 am - 6.00 pm)
• CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) - 0800 58 58 58 or text 07537 404717 (5.00 pm - Midnight)
• Papyrus HOPELineUK - 0800 068 41 41 (young people under 35)
• Cruse Helpline - 0844 477 9400