Emergency Support
If you are on campus and become aware of an imminent and serious threat to someone’s health or personal safety, you should call the Security Office on ext. 3333 or 01273 873333. You can also use the campus phones with flashing blue lights.
Why shouldn't I call 999 for an emergency on campus?
If an ambulance is required, the attending first aider should call 999 to request one. This is because the operator will ask questions about the injured person that only the attending first aider will be able to answer as they will be with the person at the time.
If a first aider isn’t present, others supporting the injured person may also call 999 to request an ambulance.
Once an ambulance has been requested, the Security Team must be informed immediately by calling them on 01273 873333, or ext 3333 from an internal phone, to let them know:
- That an ambulance has been requested.
- Your location on the campus.
- What has happened/suspected to have happened to the injured person.
This will allow the Security Team time to meet the ambulance crew at the Knights Gate Road campus entrance and to direct them to the correct location on campus. If the Security Team are not informed, the ambulance crew may get lost on campus which will slow down their response time.
More details about these processes can be found in our First Aid Guidance.
If you have any queries, please contact healthsafety@sussex.ac.uk .
Emergency support for yourself or others
People of all ages, including children, who are in crisis or concerned family and loved ones can now call 111, select the mental health option and speak to a trained mental health professional: NHS England » NHS 111 offering crisis mental health support for the first time
Find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline in England.
Samaritans
Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. They're available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116123 from any phone for free, visit the Samaritans website or email jo@samaritans.org
Shout
If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258. Shout offers a confidential 24/7 text service providing support if you are in crisis and need immediate help.
Mental Health Rapid Response Service (MHRRS)
MHRRS supports adults who are experiencing a crisis with their mental health, who think they are at risk of harming themselves or others. Examples of urgent mental health problems include:
- At high risk of suicide, with specific intention to act
- At high risk to self or others
- Significant mental health concerns
- Require immediate attention
Call the Mental Health Rapid Response Service on 0300 304 0078 or visit the MHRRS website.
Information sharing in mental health emergencies at work
Data protection law allows organisations to share personal information in an urgent or emergency situation, including to help them prevent loss of life or serious physical, emotional or mental harm.
This guidance from Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is aimed at giving employers greater certainty about sharing information about their workers in the event of a mental health emergency. It provides advice on when and how it is appropriate to share workers’ information in such an emergency, even if you haven’t thought about this before.