Published on: 12 September 2023
Local NHS trust Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has partnered with mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, which manages the Hub of Hope website and app, to ensure that searches on the site direct people to a wide range of local options for life-changing and even lifesaving support.
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is a free app that connects people to more than 12,500 mental health support services and groups across the UK. It is available on iPhone, Android and desktop and directs people to the nearest relevant local support using either the postcode typed in by the user or the location of the web browser or mobile device. Searches can be filtered by specific concern/type of support required, for example peer-to-peer groups, NHS or voluntary groups. For those needing immediate help, the app has a ‘Need Help Now?’ button that connects users directly to Samaritans or the Shout 85258 messaging service.
The partnership between Chasing the Stigma and Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust comes as the UK faces growing demand for mental health and crisis support. During 2022, mental health services in England witnessed an unprecedented surge in demand, with a remarkable 4.6 million referrals received—an increase of 22% compared to 2019. And the number of individuals seeking assistance from mental health services has been consistently on the rise. (British Medical Association, 2023)
In Derby and Derbyshire, new crisis services are being launched this year – including safe havens and crisis drop-in centres for people who need a welcoming space to go and speak to someone in person about what they’re going through – and these and many more services will be featured on the Hub of Hope website.
Chasing the Stigma’s CEO Jake Mills commented: “The Hub of Hope is the only app of its kind that brings local voluntary, grassroots, private and third sector mental health support services together in one place, providing consistent signposting to mental health support across the UK.
“Hundreds of thousands of us struggle with fluctuations in mental health day-to-day, so it’s crucial that we all know what to do and where to go if we feel we need help. This was true even before the pandemic but now with a whole range of other factors, including social media and the cost of living crisis exacerbating the problem, it’s vital we all work together to offer a consistent and clear cut route to help and support for everyone.
“By working in partnership with organisations like Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, we're confident that we will serve communities better than ever before. Together, we will empower individuals, promote community groups, and ensure that everyone can easily access the mental health support they need.”
Mark Powell, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very pleased to have this opportunity to partner with Chasing the Stigma and ensure that the Hub of Hope is a reliable and comprehensive source of information for people who are struggling with their mental health.
“As an NHS trust that provides mental health services across the city and county, we want people to be able to find support quickly and easily when they need it, including when they are in crisis. We are fortunate in Derby and Derbyshire to have several online directories and search tools to guide local people. The Hub of Hope is now a great option when people need help and, best of all, it is a national database which can signpost Derbyshire people to support wherever they are in the country. It also appears on the ‘urgent support’ page on the national NHS website, Every Mind Matters.
“By recommending the Hub of Hope we will be directing local people to a wealth of support options, including our own services and groups, which are being added to the app’s directory. With Chasing the Stigma’s dedicated team consistently updating the directory, the Hub of Hope provides accurate and relevant information to help individuals find the right support in their local communities.”
The Hub of Hope can be found at www.hubofhope.co.uk
