Mental Health Services: London
For urgent help in a crisis, get support immediately
A mental health crisis can mean different things to different people. It can include:
· Thinking about suicide or acting on suicidal thoughts
· Severely self-harming
· Experiencing psychosis, where you are out of touch with reality
· Being in a situation that could put you or other people are risk
If you are in immediate danger, call 999
Additional Urgent Services:
· CALM – evening helpline (5-10pm). Call 0800 585858
· Samaritans. 24/7 service 116 123
· National Suicide Prevention Helpline (evening service). Call 0800 587 0800
· Papyrus - young person suicide support 24/7. Call 0800 068 4141
· Shout - national crisis 24/7 text service. Text 'Shout' to 85258
· Mind Infonline – mental health helpline. Call 0300 123 3393
· SANEline - out-of-hours mental health helpline. Call 0800 689 5652
If you need help but it is not an emergency, dial 111 (press 2 for mental health advice and support)
Experiencing a decline in mental health and wellbeing
If you are not in crisis and you would like to get NHS support, usually a referral form from a General Practitioner (GP) or another professional is needed. The process involves an appointment and initial assessment with the GP or Primary Care Mental Health Nurse - the decision for which level of support you might receive is made based on the initial assessment
NHS mental health support available
If you are already under the care of your NHS mental health service, please contact the health professional you are working with
Mental Health Trust website for further information about NHS mental health services
Refer yourself to talking therapies
Additional Non-Urgent Services
· The Silver Line - helpline for older people (55+). Call 0800 470 8090
· South London Listens. Call 0800 330 8590 for South West London
· Thrive London (https://thriveldn.co.uk)
· Togetherall (https://togetherall.com/en-gb/big-white-wall/)
Quick Tips and Tricks
Grounding: practical tools that use your senses, movement and focus to calm your nervous system and bring you back to 'now'
Breathing: help calm the body and mind by activating the parasympathetic nervous system and countering the sympathetic response triggered by stress
Breathing Exercise – Diaphragm Breathing
Step 1: Sit comfortably, put one hand on your chest and the other on your belly
Step 2: Inhale through your nose and try to breath into your belly until it’s full
Step 3: Feel your belly expand as it fills with air, the hand on your chest should stay more or less still
Step 4: Exhale through your nose and gently squeeze your stomach muscles
Step 5: Feel your belly move in as you breathe the air out
Step 6: Repeat this for 10 deep breaths
Grounding Technique – Mindfulness Practice with the 5 Senses
Step 1: Look around you and say 5 things you can see, out loud or in your head
· Examples: chair, car, tree, wall, shoes…
Step 2: Find 4 things you can physically touch near you, say the word out loud or in your head as you touch them
· Examples: my head, the floor, my t-shirt, my hands, my bag…
Step 3: Listen for 3 things you can hear around you, say them out loud or in your head
· Examples: traffic, birds, my breathing, the radio…
Step 4: Check for 2 things you can smell right now, say them out loud or in your head
· Examples: food, fresh air, perfume, shampoo…
Step 5: Think of 1 thing you can taste right now, say it out loud or in your head
· Examples: coffee, toothpaste, nothing (you can also focus on a neutral taste!)…
Additional
Hub of Hope
Mental health directory
Rethink Mental Illness
Meet individual needs and make sure everyone living with a mental illness is treated with dignity and respect
Maudsley Charity
Ensuring everyone who experiences mental illness, without exception, has access to the right care and support for them
Groundswell
A charity creating solutions to end homelessness, that come directly from people who have experience of homelessness
Cardboard Citizens
Cardboard Citizens aims to create space for people in society through engaging & unlocking the life changing and unlimited possibilities of theatre and art
https://cardboardcitizens.org.uk/
YoungMinds
Providing young people with mental health support
Debt Free London
Free debt advice
Sound Minds
A mental health charity transforming lives through music, film and art
Old Spike Roastery
Roast some of the UK’s finest specialty coffee while helping people transition out of homelessness through a unique training and employment program
StepChange
Free debt advice
Recovery College
We use a recovery-based approach to encourage people to become experts in their own self-care and wellbeing, giving students the tools they need to manage their conditions and for families, friends, carers and staff to better understand mental health conditions and support people in their recovery journey
https://swlstg.nhs.uk/recovery-college
Construction Skills Course – St Mungo’s
A free accredited training programme
https://www.mungos.org/our-services/learning-training-and-employment/construction-skills/
Pret Foundation: Rising Stars
Supporting people facing homelessness into jobs at UK Pret shops
https://www.pret.co.uk/en-GB/the-pret-foundation
EASL
A Community Interest Company and employs a multi-disciplinary team of highly qualified and experienced mental health professionals who provide services to homeless projects across London, to facilitate better outcomes for homeless people with complex needs.
240 Project
An established Arts and Health Activity Centre for those affected by homelessness and exclusion
https://www.240project.org.uk/
Choir with No Name
Join us for a cuppa, a sing and a hot meal. No need to register, just turn up!
St Pauls West Hackney, 184 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7UY
https://www.choirwithnoname.org/choirs/london
RAMHP
Support increased access to mental health services for people sleeping rough in 16 London boroughs, by building teams of mental health practitioners that work directly with outreach services
https://imperialcollegehealthpartners.com/portfolio/ramhp/
Princess Alice Hospice
We're your local hospice caring for patients and families through illness and bereavement for as long as they need us
CDARS: Sunshine Mental Health Recovery Cafe
Provides additional support in conjunction with the clinical services offered by the local NHS Trust. Open every day
https://www.cdars.org.uk/mental-health-support
National Autistic Society
AbilityNet
A charity transforming the lives of older and disabled people and working with organisations of all types and sizes to build a digital world that is accessible to all
CDARS: Saving Lives
Programme for suicide prevention and management
https://www.cdars.org.uk/suicide-prevention
VIA – Kingston Wellbeing Service
A charity offering free, confidential support to adults and young people with issues around alcohol dependency and drug use across the UK
CDARS: Reconnect Include Share Engage
A health and wellbeing programme aimed at people experiencing mental health and substance misuse issues
https://www.cdars.org.uk/health-and-wellbeing
CDARS: Neurodiversity Support Programme
Supports individuals with neurodiverse conditions
https://www.cdars.org.uk/neurodiversity-support-programme
CDARS: Sunlight Youth Cafe
Helps young adults to deal with challenging life experiences and learn how to live healthy independent lives
https://www.cdars.org.uk/young-people-service
Gentlemen of Value Club
A safe space for men to break the silence and build strength
https://www.cdars.org.uk/gentlemen-of-value-club
CDARS: Ex-Military Veterans Support
A programme that supports the wellbeing and reintegration of veterans into their local community
https://www.cdars.org.uk/ex-military-veterans-support
CDARS: Community Kitchen Service
Providing meals for those struggling with food poverty, cooking and shopping classes, and volunteer opportunities for clients facing employment barriers and lacking work experience
https://www.cdars.org.uk/community-kitchen-service
CDARS: Adult Adoptee Circle
A therapeutic space created for adult adoptees
https://www.cdars.org.uk/the-cdars-adult-adoptee-circle
CDARS: Parents and Carers of Neurodivergent Groups
A support group for family members and carers of neurodivergent groups
https://www.cdars.org.uk/parents-and-carers-of-neurodivergent-groups
Connected Kingston
Signposting platform
Street Soccer Foundation
To bring the power of football into communities nationwide; and to inspire and encourage vulnerable and disadvantaged young people to turn their lives around for the better
https://streetsoccerfoundation.org.uk
Outside Edge
Supporting addiction recovery through drama and theatre
Good Gym
We run, walk, and cycle to help local community organisations and isolated older people by doing practical tasks
Accumulate
Accumulate uses creativity to improve the wellbeing of young people who are affected by homelessness
Recovery College
We use a recovery-based approach to encourage people to become experts in their own self-care and wellbeing, giving students the tools they need to manage their conditions and for families, friends, carers and staff to better understand mental health conditions and support people in their recovery journey
https://swlstg.nhs.uk/recovery-college
Spires
Spires is a south London based charity that has been supporting homeless and disadvantaged men & women
