Sussex Oakleaf, which provides services for Pathfinder in Crawley and Mid Sussex, has launched a new online platform aimed at providing advice, information, support, and resources to people who are struggling with their mental health.
Sussex Oakleaf is part of Brighton Housing Trust (BHT), the two organisations having merged on 1 April 2020. The newly-merged organisation provides its services across an area that reaches from Crawley and Horsham in the north of Sussex down to Brighton in the south and across the coast as far as Hastings in the east.
The platform, which can be accessed through the Sussex Oakleaf website www.sussexoakleaf.org.uk will allow visitors to chat one to one, through any internet enabled device, with one of Sussex Oakleaf’s trained mental health Recovery Workers.
Visitors can ask questions, share their concerns, or receive guidance on how best to manage their mental health or the mental health of a loved one. Recovery Workers will be on hand to signpost visitors to services or resources relevant to their needs.
The Sussex Oakleaf website also now hosts a new resource library with links to useful websites, videos and apps which can help to support better mental health. Visitors will also find a link to Sussex Oakleaf’s Community Support Facebook Group, where members have already been supporting each other since the onset of the UK lockdown.
Dudley Edwards, a senior manager for Sussex Oakleaf said:
“Supporting better mental health remains our top priority through these difficult times. The coronavirus outbreak presents unique challenges to people struggling with their mental health and to the way that we provide support to those people.
“Our dedicated Recovery Workers have already adapted quickly to new ways of working, providing support via telephone, text, and other online tools like Zoom. We have also seen an increase in people calling our helpdesk to enquire about support services.
“I am proud to see the launch of our new online platform which will provide people with an additional avenue of support during this period.”
BHT Chief Executive, Andy Winter said:
“I am humbled to see the dedication and hard work being displayed by staff at Sussex Oakleaf. They have truly risen to the challenge of supporting better mental health during the coronavirus crisis and the innovative ways that they are finding to support others cements my belief that our merger will help to bring long-term positive impact to the communities in which we operate.”
To access online mental health support from Sussex Oakleaf or to find out about the other services they provide, please visit www.sussexoakleaf.org.uk
