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Privacy & Information

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We support:

  • Over 16s
  • Living in Plymouth with a Plymouth GP
  • Common Mental Health difficulties such as anxiety & depression


How to access our service:

We encourage you to make a self-referral to our service if you are:

  • Experiencing depression anxiety or PTSD.
  • 16+ years old.
  • Ready to start working on your problems and able to attend regular appointments.
  • Registered with a Plymouth GP.
  • Not currently receiving support from other mental health services.

Treatments we offer:


Plymouth Talking Therapies is not suitable for people:

  • Who are a high risk to themselves or others, such as current risk of suicide or serious self-harm.
  • Using other mental health services, such as the Community Mental Health Team.
  • Who have current or severe and enduring mental health needs and as such require specialist services.

How your information is used
It is our policy to share appropriate information with your GP. Anything you tell us remains confidential and is not shared outside the NHS unless there is a risk of harm to you or someone else. If we do need to share information, we will always try to discuss this with you first.

Records and the system we use
We use a programme called Iaptus, which is separate from your usual medical records and has been designed specifically for talking therapies services. Like any medical appointment, we keep records of your attendance, progress, and details from any pre-session questionnaires you complete.

Sharing information for your care
To support your wellbeing, we may share some information with other professionals involved in your care:

  • Your GP will be informed that you are receiving support from NHS Plymouth Talking Therapies.
  • Your GP will also receive updates on your attendance and a summary of your assessment or therapy outcomes.
  • Occasionally, other NHS services, such as the Mental Health Assessment & Intervention Service (MAIS), may have read-only access to your notes to support your safety and collaborative care. They will only access your records if we have referred you to their service.
  • Occasionally, we may liaise with other mental health services or safeguarding teams to ensure you and those around you are safe.


Consent and third-party information
Talking Therapies does not routinely share information with family members, workplaces, or other agencies without your consent.

An exception is for young people under 18, where we may need to share some information with a parent or guardian if additional support around your safety and wellbeing is necessary.

For NHS/Livewell Employees & Family Members
It is our policy to lock the records of NHS or Livewell employees so that only management and the allocated therapist can view the notes. Employees should self-identify during referral or their initial assessment. Records for these patients will also be marked with an NHS/Livewell priority label to ensure appropriate handling and support.

For more information, see our full Privacy Notice.

I need urgent help now

NHS Plymouth Talking Therapies is not an emergency service

When struggling, it is not uncommon for people to have difficult thoughts or feelings of hopelessness.

We are not an emergency service, so it is very important that you seek help from the right sources if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself:

First Response Service via NHS 111 (24/7 mental health crisis line – select the mental health option)

Valued Lives 01209 901438 (7 days a week 5pm-midnight)

Samaritans 116 123 (free from mobile or landline)

SHOUT – 24/7 text service – (Text Shout to 85258)

SANE 4pm-10.30pm 365 days a year – 0300 304 7000

Papyrus – for young adults 0800 068 4141

Campaign against living miserably (CALM) for men – 0800 58 58 58

Childline – 0800 1111

If there is a life-threatening situation you need to contact emergency services on 999 or present at the nearest A&E department (Derriford Hospital).

For all non-emergency medical/mental health interventions please contact your GP during normal working hours.

Livewell’s First Response 24/7 crisis line provides advice, support and signposting for people experiencing mental health difficulties. If you feel worried about your mental health or that of a loved one or a friend, you can call the crisis line via NHS 111 (select the mental health option). Click here to find out more.

You can also phone NHS 111 for urgent medical problems who are open 24 hours, 7 days per week.