Mental Health Support
All clergy need to develop self-awareness of their own wellbeing in order to seek support when needed. This is especially crucial in the area of mental health. If you are in need of help please make sure that you seek it early, help is always available. It is also important to make sure that you listen to those around you if they suggest a need for support or for time for restoration and recovery.
There are counselling options that are both free and entirely external to our diocesan structures. If you need further paid counselling please contact Neil Smart who will deal with all requests in the utmost confidence.
Emergency Counselling and Advice – Wisdom Health Assured App
All clergy have access to a free 24 hour counselling and advice service, provided by Health Assured through the Wisdom App. This help can be accessed immediately and they will give guidance if further intervention is required.
The 24/7, 365-day helpline number is 0800 030 5182 – call saying that you are from the Portsmouth Diocese.
This service can provide support and longer term counselling if needed. It is entirely self-referring and you do not need to go through any diocesan channels. The code for access to the app is included in every Clergy Newsletter.
See full information on the ECAP page.
St Luke’s for Clergy Wellbeing
St Luke’s supports individual clergy and their families to improve their psychological wellbeing and mental health. Six sessions are available free of charge with professional counsellors. To access this you need to contact the Medical Secretary – or by phone, 020 45 46 7000. They request a referral letter from your GP so there may be a delay in receiving support.
St Luke’s Virtual Wellbeing Programme is updated every Monday, with all materials available to download as a PDF.
The Clergy Support Trust
Counselling is available for clergy (training, serving and retired) and their partners experiencing a range of difficulties such as anxiety and depression, separation, bereavement, or post-traumatic stress. They require a letter from a therapist with the expected fees to be paid for your treatment and certain financial conditions apply.
Sheldon Hub
The excellent Sheldon Hub for clergy support and wellbeing, run by the Society of Mary and Martha, is now available for all clergy to use, free of charge. Details can be found here.
The Society for Mary and Martha can provide emergency residential retreats at the Sheldon Centre in Devon.