There is a wealth of local mental health support available through Open Mental Health. As an alliance combining community organisations with the NHS and Somerset Council, Open Mental Health provides a wide range of supportive groups, courses, exercise, and social opportunities for your patients.
Understanding Our Locality Teams
Open Mental Health uses a locality model to ensure each individual receives the right care for their mental health within their own community. Our multidisciplinary teams in Taunton and West Somerset, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, and Mendip serve as community contact points for partnership working.
People seeking support are introduced to their locality team, made up of Recovery and Wellbeing Workers, a Locality Lead, and a Locality Coordinator, who work with them to find out which services best address their needs.
We’ve put together some real-life stories showing how the dedication of our Recovery and Wellbeing Workers can transform people’s lives.
The teams offer more than just one-on-one help; they also deliver group sessions and courses, creating safe, friendly spaces for people to connect, learn new skills, and share their interests alongside other people dealing with mental health challenges.
Specific groups and activities vary by area, but each locality team generally offers access to:
- Peer support and mentoring
- In-person one-to-one and group support
- Specialist support for older people
- Interventions from psychologists, mental health nurses, and occupational therapists
- Eating disorder specialists
- Crisis Safe Space appointments for urgent, out-of-hours care
- Advice and guidance with housing, money, and benefits
To see the specific community groups, courses, and drop-in sessions currently running in your area, please visit your local team’s page:
County-Wide Online Options
In addition to face-to-face community teams, there is a comprehensive programme of online workshops, groups, and courses available to anyone across Somerset. This makes sure that patients who cannot travel or prefer remote support still have accessible options to help them manage their wellbeing. You can view the full schedule of online options here.
How to Connect Your Patients
It is easy to refer a patient to Open Mental Health. To find out more, read our referral guide.
Patients who are ready to take the lead themselves can call Mindline Somerset available on 01823 276892 or use the freephone number 0800 138 1692 and ask the person on the phone to refer them to Open Mental Health. Alternatively, patients can simply fill out the contact form on our website and the appropriate locality team will get in touch.