Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, a specialist mental health and learning disability services trust in the South East of England, has announced a new partnership with the charity Chasing the Stigma.

The trust has selected Chasing the Stigma as its new signposting partner, intended to help direct people to mental health support via the charity’s Hub of Hope app, which enables patients to find and access relevant local services and groups.

The trust will embed the technology on its website, while its own mental health services will be added to the charity’s platform, allowing those that download the app to access information about a range of community and inpatient care, plus services in dementia, depression, personality disorder, psychosis and specialist learning disabilities.

According to the trust, no personal or patient data will be passed on to the Hub of Hope, which it says ‘brings NHS, Samaritans, Mind and 3,500+ registered national and local voluntary, grassroots, private and third sector mental health support services together in one place’ for people to utilise.

Included in the Government’s COVID-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing Recovery Action plan, the app has been supporting people since 2017, providing signposting to all the options for help within users’ own local area.

Sussex Partnership says that, ‘to date, the Hub of Hope has directed more than 200,000 people to life-changing and even life-saving help’, and has proven particularly popular among men aged between 25 and 54.

Sam Allen, Chief Executive of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is so important that everyone can find mental health services when they or their families need them.

“Partnering with Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope means we can provide clear signposting so people can find help in the NHS or any other organisation they choose. Please download the Hub of Hope App and share it with your friends and family.”

Liverpool comedian, Jake Mills, who set up Chasing the Stigma, added: “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, as it means we can help more people across the UK. Our aim is to work with all the NHS Trusts, and this partnership is another great example of how we can be working together to create clear and consistent pathways to care across all sectors.”

The Hub of Hope can be downloaded from app stores for both Android and iPhones, or is alternatively available online.

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