If you are struggling to cope, feeling low, anxious or heading towards a crisis over the Christmas period, you can be reassured that you will still be able to take advantage of Dorset’s Access Mental Health services.

Led by Dorset HealthCare, the services offer round-the-clock help and advice to those in need, in person, over the phone and online over Christmas and into the New Year.

The county’s Connection helpline is open 24/7 for support, advice and signposting for anyone in Dorset. Direct dial 0800 652 0190 or call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.

Connection has this year received an average of 4,500-5,000 calls per month. One caller to the service said: “I really felt listened to and supported at a time when I was struggling to cope. It means so much to know I am not alone and was assured by the person I spoke to that I could call back any time and that I wasn’t being a nuisance.”

Face-to-face and online services available include The Retreat, which is a drop-in service run in partnership with the Dorset Mental Health Forum providing a way for over-18s to talk through problems with a mental health worker or peer specialist face-to-face. The Bournemouth Retreat is open from 4.30-11.30pm every day and Dorchester’s Retreat is open from 4.30-11.30pm, Sunday-Wednesday.

Also available are Community Front Rooms – face-to-face drop-in support service for over-18s in Bridport, Shaftesbury and Wareham (2.15-9.45pm, Thursday to Sunday) and Weymouth (2.15-9.45pm, Monday to Sunday). Virtual support is also available. They are run by local charities – The Burrough Harmony Centre (Bridport), Hope (Shaftesbury) and Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (Wareham and Weymouth) – and are all staffed by mental health and peer support workers.

Laura Ekelund, Dorset HealthCare’s Crisis and Acute Community Services manager, said: “We know this time of year can be particularly hard for many, and our Access Mental Health Services are here to help.

“Our Connection mental health crisis phone line is available 24/7. Please do call us if you are worried about your own, or someone close to you, mental health – our experienced mental health staff are here to listen and support you to find a way forward, whatever the circumstances.”

In person support is available in the evenings, at the Retreat and Community Front Rooms. All the details can be found at www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/access-mental-health

Dorset HealthCare offers a wide range of other mental health support for all ages. Visit www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/takeastep.