Mental health services in Sussex could merge to be run by one trust.

A public consultation has been launched to ask people for their views on the future of mental health facilities for thousands of people in the county.

Any changes will also affect drug and alcohol services and provision for people with learning disabilities.

South Downs Health is responsible for Brighton and Hove while the rest of the Sussex is covered by West Sussex Health and Social Care and East Sussex County Healthcare.

The three options being considered are:

Keep the three trusts as they are now with collaboration where appropriate
Merger between West Sussex Health and Social Care and East Sussex County Healthcare with South Downs Health continuing to provide the relevant services for Brighton and Hove.

Merger of the three trusts but only including the mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services currently provided by South Downs Health.

South Downs Health has indicated it would prefer to continue to focus on the city and build up its links with the city council and the primary care trust rather than form a county-wide service.

Chief executive Michael Rosenberg said: "We have very good links with the other organisations in the city and we want to increase those.

"As a city, we have different needs and demands on our services to East and West Sussex and we believe it would be better for us to concentrate on that area to ensure we provide the best service possible for the people who need it."

Those in favour of a merger believe it will make services more efficient across the county and mean less red tape for people who use them.

The East and West Sussex trusts already have a joint board and management structure and a merger is seen by many as a logical next step.

Western Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT) is leading the consultation process on behalf of all the trusts involved.

Chief executive Claire Holloway said: "Our overall ethos of care is based on supporting people at home, living independently wherever possible and as full participants in the community.

"What matters most is that the service is there where and when it is needed and not who provides it. The key is to have consistent quality and equitable access.

"The consultation document sets out a vision for the future of mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services across East and West Sussex and in the city of Brighton and Hove.

"We now want to hear the views of local people about the future shape of these services in the next five years and what kind of organisations they think might be best equipped to provide the services needed."

One person in four will have a mental health problem at some point in their life while more than three in ten GP visits are for mental rather than physical health problems.

One in six hospital accident and emergency visits are alcohol related while thousands of people in Sussex have a learning disability.

Western Sussex PCT wants to make sure that all those with an interest have the chance to express their views.

The consultation runs until August 19 and public meetings to give people the chance to air their views are being held on:

June 8: Horntye Park Sports Complex, Hastings, at 6pm
June 10: Civic Centre, Uckfield, at 6pm
June 20: Sussex County Cricket Club, Hove, at noon
June 20: Village Hall, Billingshurst, at 6pm
June 27: Eastbourne Town Hall, Eastbourne, at 6pm
July 5: Hawth Theatre, Crawley, at 6pm
July 11: Field Place, Durrington, Worthing, at 6pm
July 14: Brighthelm Centre, Brighton, at 6pm
To find out more or to get a copy of the consultation document, call the Shaping the Future project office on 01243 815170 or go to www.userqnews.net