Publish date: 12 May 2025
As part of mental health awareness week, we’re reminding people of the local options available should they need support.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is the main provide of specialist mental health, learning disabilities and autism services across the southwest. It has recently launched a new signposting resource highlighting where to go if help is needed.
It includes tips and advice on maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing, services if you’re struggling with more common issues, through to urgent help in a crisis.
The resources include local Talking Therapies services which support those experiencing things like stress, anxiety, worry or depression. It also includes the southwest gambling service for people impacted by the harmful effects of gambling. If urgent advice and support is needed, people are advised to contact NHS 111 and select the mental health option (2) and where there is an immediate risk of harm to dial 999.
Click here for more information on local services.
In addition, the Trust has been working with people with lived experience of mental health to develop a hub of wider community-based options and treatment. This includes peer support groups, groups which provide access to green spaces, wildlife organisations, hiking groups and other wellbeing initiatives available in local communities across the region.
Mathew Page, Chief Operating Officer at AWP said: “We understand that mental health challenges can affect anyone at any time and the feedback we’ve received tells us that navigating the system to get the right support can be challenging sometimes. By providing these resources, we hope to empower individuals to take control of their wellbeing, access timely support, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.”
AWP provides healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism in inpatient and community-based settings. We service a population of around 1.8 million across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
