Changes to our Portsmouth Peer Support Service 

From 1 February 2026, Solent Mind’s Portsmouth Peer Support Service, currently run from the Wellbeing Centre in Arundel Street, is changing.

Solent Mind has been commissioned by the NHS to focus on providing peer support to service users within the primary care remit. To ensure a joined-up approach, people looking to get support will need to follow a new referral pathway to access dedicated one-to-one support. Find out more here.

To access our services in the future, please speak to your NHS mental health service, or contact the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub (0300 123 6621 Monday - Friday 8am-6pm) and they can arrange a new referral for you.

The Community Peer service is for people needing support with their mental health based in Portsmouth or living in surrounding areas.

What is peer support?

Peer support is a person-centred form of support where people with lived experience work alongside those needing support. Our peer practitioners have lived experience of mental health themselves and can relate to how you are feeling.

We can support you with:

• Accessing community services and community activities
• Recovery‑focused activities including courses such as; WRAP, Coping Skills and The Decider Skills.
• Using lived experience to support others’ recovery and prevent escalation
• Social inclusion through accessing community groups and activities

Please note that our services are not a crisis centre or 'Mental Health A&E' and we don't stock or prescribe medication. We are also not a gateway into secondary mental health services.

For urgent support, contact the NHS on 111, or call Samaritans on 116 123.

Do you receive support from Adult Mental Health services?

If you're currently being supported by:

• The Assessment to Intervention Team (A2i)
• The Integrated Support Team
• NHS Talking Therapies Portsmouth

you can speak to the Portsmouth Mental Health Hub (0300 123 6621 Monday - Friday 8am-6pm) to arrange a referral to our service for further mental health support.

Information for professionals

If you are a professional from the Assessment to Intervention Team, the Integrated Support Team or NHS Talking Therapies Portsmouth wishing to refer someone into our service, please complete the referral form which will be available from Monday 2 February 2026.

Professionals must have consent from the individual before making this referral.

Looking for employment support?

We also offer support to help people with mental health conditions find, stay and success in work.

Find out more about our Employment Support in Portsmouth

Staff spotlight: Tom and Melissa, Portsmouth Wellbeing services

Tom and Melissa reflect on their roles as part of our Peer Recovery and Wellbeing service team, supporting people in Portsmouth with their mental health.

Read more