Supported Self Help

As the majority of our current funding for Supported Self Help is coming to an end in March 2025, we have taken the difficult decision to pause new referrals from today (16th January 2025) to ensure all individuals already referred can complete the intervention before the funding ends. 

We’re incredibly proud of the difference this service has made to the lives of adults in LLR. Since April 2023, it has supported over 700 people, with 85% showing improved depression levels and 83% showing improved reduced anxiety – clear evidence of it’s positive impact. Thanks to secured funding, we are excited to continue offering this service from April 2025, and referrals will reopen later this year, although at a slightly reduced capacity. Our fundraising team is working hard to find new ways to increase capacity, ensuring that Supported Self Help remains accessible to all adults who need it.

Updates regarding the reopening of referrals will be available on our website and social media pages in due course.

A guided, self-help programme which aims to give you the skills to understand, protect and improve your mental health.

Your mental health matters. We believe that anyone who is experiencing mental health problems should be able to get the help and support they need, when they need it.

Supported Self Help is a 6-session, early intervention programme for anyone who is starting to experience symptoms of worsening mental health. It has been developed with people who have lived experience of mental health problems and professionals to provide tools to support your mental wellbeing as soon as you need it.

How does it work?

Trained mental health practitioners deliver one-to-one sessions via online video calls, telephone calls or face-to-face in local community venues across Leicestershire – whichever option is best for you and your needs. Leicester City and Rutland Supported Self Help will be delivered via online video calls and telephone calls only.

After a simple assessment to see if the service is appropriate for you, our friendly and supportive Practitioners will empower you to try new tools and techniques designed to support and improve your mental health.

You and your practitioner will select one of eight pathways relevant to your current mental health situation:

• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Low mood
• Low self-esteem
• Stress
• Feeling alone
• Managing anger
• Grief and loss
• Menopause

From these pathways, you will try a range of self-help tools to improve and support your mental wellbeing, putting together a toolkit of resources that work best for you. Your practitioner will support you to do this in your weekly one-to-one sessions.

Who is it for?

Residents of Leicester City, Leicestershire and Rutland who are over the age of 18, and are starting to struggle with their mental health.

It raised my self-esteem… I feel I am more able to make decisions and plans. I have been able to off load and talk about issues that weighed heavily. I have been helped to find the tools to deal positively with some very negative issues in my life.

Please Note: This is a guided self-help service for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems, not a crisis mental health service. It also does not replace support provided by GPs or CPNs, or A&E.

A mental health crisis can be a medical emergency – Please seek help from the appropriate place if you are feeling intense emotions and you will be supported through your difficult feelings. We DO NOT recommend that you call Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Mind for this type of support as we do not have a crisis service.

Here are some places that you can receive support:

• If you feel like your life is at risk, or if you have seriously harmed yourself, please call 999 immediately as this is an emergency. If you need medical help but can keep yourself safe for a while, call ‘NHS 111’ by dialling 111
• If you need urgent NHS mental health support, call our Mental Health Central Access Point: 0808 800 3302