Attacks on health staff are continuing to rise despite a long-running campaign to cut the number of incidents.
South Downs Health NHS Trust has reported 186 cases of violence, abuse and harassment between April and June this year.
This is higher than last year's quarterly average of 148.
The trust provides community, mental health and rehabilitation services in the Brighton and Hove, Lewes and Newhaven area.
It says 40 per cent of the reported cases happened in its adult mental health service.
The majority of cases involve physical attacks, verbal abuse, intimidation and threats although there has also been one report of a sexual assault.
Health bosses have now applied for funding to train front-line staff in handling potentially violent or aggressive behaviour.
A trust spokesman said: "It is not something that people working here should have to put up with as simply part of the job. An assault is an assault."
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