To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is highlighting the benefits of group therapy as an effective way to support mental wellbeing and urging people who need help to reach out early.
The trust offers a wide range of group therapy programmes that include help with anxiety, depression, stress, difficulties with complex emotions and drug and alcohol dependency People can sign up for these groups without the need for a professional referral.
Dr Phil Anderson, Deputy Chief Therapies Officer at Surrey and Borders Partnership, said:
“This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is ‘community’. We know that connecting with others can be very beneficial to supporting good mental health and the group therapy programs we offer all provide evidence-based approaches to supporting people struggling with their mental health and wellbeing.
“When you need more than self-help, group therapies offer practical tools, guidance, and support from professionals to help improve wellbeing, manage emotions and develop more effective strategies to cope with day-to-day challenges.”
He added: “Whilst joining a group can feel a little overwhelming, there are real benefits to being on a recovery journey with people who have had similar experiences and difficulties managing their mental health.
“People who join a group often feel less isolated and alone with their problems, and groups are a great opportunity to learn more effective ways of coping from one another.”
A person who attended a therapy group run by the trust’s Mind Matters Surrey talking therapies service said:
“I found the group great, we were able to talk about our specific things and I really liked that. I found it helpful to share my thoughts and hear from other people.”
Another person who attends the trust’s Service User Network (SUN) which supports people with complex emotional needs or a personality disorder diagnosis, said:
“Being part of the SUN community has significantly contributed to my overall wellbeing and provided me with a strong sense of belonging. I truly believe that I would not be in as positive a place today without the support and presence of SUN.”
We offer a variety of different group therapies for adults living in Surrey and North East Hampshire. They include:
Mind Matters Surrey offers free, confidential talking therapies to people over 17 registered with a Surrey GP. It provides individual therapy, online guided self-help, and group sessions like Improving Wellbeing, Boost Your Mood and Motivation, and Tackling Worry and Anxiety.
Groups are online, supportive, and encourage gentle participation. Mention a course at your first assessment.
To self-refer, visit the Mind Matters website and follow the Limbic chat, no GP referral is needed. For queries, call 0300 330 5450 or text 07786 202565 (8.30am–5.30pm).
Service User Network (SUN) is a free, confidential NHS support group for adults over 18 in Surrey and North East Hampshire with complex emotional needs or a personality disorder diagnosis.
It offers peer support groups where members share experiences, learn coping strategies, and build connections. To join, complete the SUN form on our website, no GP referral needed. For questions, call 01372 216700 or email sun.admin@sabp.nhs.uk.
Our i-access Group Support and Recovery Café offers free, confidential help for adults over 18 in Surrey affected by drug or alcohol use.
It provides peer-led groups, recovery activities, and social connection to boost confidence and recovery. No referral or appointment is needed. For queries, call 0808 169 8512 or make a referral online.
Recovery College runs a wide range of courses which support people with their health and wellbeing. These are available to people living in Surrey and north-east Hampshire. The courses are open to people experiencing a range of mental and physical health conditions, including anxiety and depression. You can enrol to join a course on the Surrey Recovery College website.
A Recovery College student said:
“Being part of the Recovery College was more than just the courses, it gave me a sense of community. For the first time, I felt seen and understood by people who truly got what it meant to be me.”