How we can help

First Steps is an NHS-led service offering friendly advice and information on mental health and emotional issues to the public and employers. Our aim is to help people to find their way back to wellbeing.

Covering the Eastern Surrey area, we run a free and confidential helpline and email service staffed by trained mental health advisors. We also offer a range of self-help resources and educational sessions and signpost people to other relevant local services. Our goal is to help people talk about and understand their emotions, thoughts and feelings and make the best choices in addressing their mental health needs. We also welcome calls and enquiries from relatives, friends, carers and employers.

Call: 0808 801 0325 Email: first.steps@nhs.net

Although the information we offer on this website is generic, access to the First Steps service is only for people living in Eastern Surrey (click here) and for people aged 16 and over.
(For information about Child and Adolescent services and youth counselling for under-16s click here )

The First Steps service is built upon a partnership approach with local agencies, currently: Employment Support and Retraining Agency (based in Redhill), Citizens Advice Bureau (Redhill and Reigate and Banstead), and Art Matters (based in Redhill).

You’re not alone

One in four people experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. There are a number of people out there who can help. There’s also a lot you can do to help yourself on the road to recovery.

First Steps offers:

Effective self-help booklets and recommended reading to download.
One-to-one and telephone appointments for guided self-help and brief interventions for common mental health problems.
Information and help in accessing useful local and national organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, which offers help with employment, harassment, debt problems and benefits.

‘Emotion Gyms’ to help you understand and cope with common emotional issues (anxiety and anger, low mood and relationship problems). Emotion Gyms are run by trained mental health advisors and experienced counsellors/trainers, with the counsellors providing background information and the First Steps advisors offering self-help tips and strategies. The two-hour evening sessions are held at different venues in Eastern Surrey. For more information, click here.
Information and access to subsidised council leisure centre exercise opportunities and free walking for health schemes For more information, click here.
Access to art and craft-based workshops and kit loan schemes. For more information, click here.
Information about mental health for employers and for employees regarding prevention, stress management and supporting staff experiencing mental health problems.

Information and advice about specific mental health problems, (including relevant self-help techniques).

Is First Steps suitable for you?

Helping you to help yourself

The First Steps service is intended for people experiencing mild mental health problems and emotional difficulties, who feel they might benefit from a bit of friendly help and advice.

You could be feeling angry, anxious or stressed. You might be feeling panicky or depressed. It could be that you’re having difficulties eating or sleeping or just generally having a tough time. Whatever emotional or mental health problems you’re experiencing, if you need to talk things through, and if you think that with a little bit of help you could set yourself on the path to wellbeing, then the First Steps service is for you.

Which technique?

So, which of our self-help options is right for you?

Self-help techniques can be used by anyone, just so long as you are willing and motivated to try them and want to help yourself, and your mental health problems are not too severe. If you feel you’re in a position to take positive action to find your way back to wellbeing, then self-help could be the way forward. The table below gives you a snapshot of self-help techniques for common mental health problems.

* In this instance, only certain elements of ‘Look after yourself’ are applicable

For more information on self-help techniques click here. To find out more about specific mental health problems, click here.

If you’d like to learn all about self-help in a stimulating group environment, you might think about attending one of our ‘Emotion Gyms’ click here. Or, if you’d rather receive self-help and intervention guidance in a more private setting, the First Steps one-to-one appointment service could be for you.

Alternatively, you might be looking for more general information on dealing with common emotional issues. If this is the case, you could refer to our library of self-help booklets and recommended reading.

If, however, you think your condition is affecting your ability to cope on a daily basis, and is having a serious negative impact on your life, your GP/doctor should probably be your first port of call (rather than self-help).