Mental Health Support for Older People at Home: A West Sussex Guide

Mental health support for older people at home starts with the GP, but in West Sussex you can also refer yourself for free NHS talking therapy, and specialist older people’s mental health teams can visit at home. Depression, anxiety and loneliness are common in later life, and they are treatable. They are not a normal part of getting older.

This guide explains how to spot the signs, which NHS services cover Worthing, Adur and West Sussex, what to do in a crisis, and how regular home care or companionship can make a real difference.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. For urgent mental health help in Sussex at any time, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. You can also call Samaritans free on 116 123, day or night.

How common are mental health problems in later life?

Very common, and often missed. Age UK has highlighted that hundreds of thousands of people over 65 in England live with anxiety or depression, and that older people are much less likely to be referred for talking therapies than younger adults. In 2020/21 only around 5% of NHS talking therapy referrals were for people over 65, against an expected 12%.

The triggers are familiar: bereavement, a new diagnosis, chronic pain, losing the ability to drive, caring for a partner, moving house, or simply seeing fewer people. Older people may also play symptoms down, or describe them as physical complaints such as tiredness, poor sleep or aches.

Signs to look out for

• losing interest in things they used to enjoy
• low mood, tearfulness or irritability lasting more than two weeks
• sleeping much more or much less, or eating poorly
• withdrawing from family, cancelling plans, not answering the phone
• constant worry, restlessness or fear of going out
• letting the house, personal hygiene or medication slip
• drinking more
• saying they feel a burden or that there is no point

Some of these can also be early signs of dementia, a physical illness or medication side effects. That is another reason to involve the GP. Our guide to signs an elderly parent needs care covers the wider picture.

Step one: the GP

The NHS advises seeing a GP if low mood, stress or anxiety lasts more than two weeks. The GP can check for physical causes, review medication, discuss antidepressants, refer to specialist services and suggest social prescribing, where a link worker connects the person with local groups and activities.

If your parent will not go, offer to book the appointment and go with them, or ask whether a phone or home visit is possible. With their consent you can tell the practice what you have noticed. Even without consent, you can share your concerns; the GP just may not be able to discuss the person with you.

NHS Talking Therapies in West Sussex: self-referral

NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies offers free psychological therapy for common problems including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. It is provided by Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.

There is no upper age limit. Anyone aged 18 or over who is registered with a West Sussex GP can refer themselves online or by phoning their local team, without going through the GP first. Therapy may be by phone, video or face to face, individually or in a group.

Older people sometimes assume talking therapy is “not for them”, or worry about technology. Help your parent fill in the form if they want you to, and tell the service about any hearing, sight or mobility needs so it can adapt.

Specialist older people’s mental health teams

For more serious or complex problems, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust runs dementia and older people’s community mental health services, with five area-based teams in West Sussex. They support people with moderate to severe mental health conditions, including dementia and severe depression.

These teams generally accept people aged 70 and over, and may also see younger people with significant frailty or complex needs related to ageing. Access is through a GP referral. Appointments can take place at a clinic or at home, and the team can provide more intensive support when someone needs it.

What to do in a mental health crisis

A crisis is when someone feels unable to cope, or may harm themselves or someone else. If your parent talks about not wanting to live, or about ending their life, take it seriously and ask them directly how they are feeling. Asking does not put the idea in their head.

• Immediate danger: call 999 or go to A&E.
• Urgent help in Sussex: call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. It is free, available 24 hours a day, and you can call about someone else.
• Text support: text SUSSEX to 85258 for free text support from trained volunteers.
• Someone to talk to: Samaritans on 116 123.

If your parent is already under a mental health team, the team’s contact details should be in their care plan.

Loneliness and isolation

Loneliness is not a mental illness, but it feeds depression and anxiety and makes them harder to treat. The NHS suggests talking to someone, joining groups, volunteering and asking the GP about social prescribing. The Silver Line Helpline, run by Age UK, offers free friendly conversation to people aged 55 and over at any hour.

Locally, Age UK West Sussex, day centres and community groups can help. Our guide to companionship care and loneliness covers the options, and community access support explains how carers can help someone get out again.

Mental health support for older people at home: how home care and companionship help

Regular visits from the same carer do more than keep a house running. They bring structure to the day, a reason to get dressed, and someone who notices when things change. A good carer can:

• encourage meals, fluids and daily walks, which all affect mood
• prompt medication, including antidepressants that only work if taken consistently
• go with your parent to appointments or a group they are nervous about attending
• provide companionship and conversation, which many older people miss most
• let the family know about warning signs early

Carers are not therapists and should not be expected to treat depression. Home care works alongside NHS support. Our guides to what a companion carer does and the cost of companionship care explain what to expect.

Looking after yourself as a carer

Caring for a parent or partner with depression is draining. You can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies too, and Carers Support West Sussex offers help for unpaid carers. See our guide to carer burnout in West Sussex.

Frequently asked questions

Is depression a normal part of ageing?

No. Low mood is common after losses and illness, but persistent depression is a treatable condition at any age. If it lasts more than two weeks, speak to the GP.

Can older people refer themselves to NHS Talking Therapies?

Yes. In West Sussex, anyone 18 or over registered with a local GP can self-refer online or by phone to NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies. There is no upper age limit.

Can I refer my elderly parent for mental health help?

You can help them self-refer to talking therapies, or raise your concerns with their GP, who can refer to specialist teams. In a crisis you can call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option on their behalf.

What if my parent refuses help?

Adults with mental capacity can refuse treatment. Keep the conversation open, focus on specific problems such as poor sleep, and involve the GP. If you believe they are at risk of harming themselves, call NHS 111 or 999.

Can a companion carer help with depression?

Regular companionship can ease loneliness and help with routine, which supports recovery, but it does not replace treatment. It works best alongside GP care or talking therapy.

The Care Panel is an independent publication. We are not a care provider and are not regulated by the Care Quality Commission, because we do not deliver care. Always check a provider’s own CQC registration and inspection report before you commit.

Written and fact-checked by The Care Panel. Last updated September 2026. Sources: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (NHS 111 mental health option; dementia and older people community mental health services); NHS West Sussex Talking Therapies; NHS guidance on loneliness in older people; Age UK research on older people’s mental health; Age UK Silver Line Helpline; Samaritans. General information, not financial, legal or medical advice — figures are indicative and subject to change.