Urgent Mental Health Support
If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed, worried about your mental health or are having suicidal thoughts, you can now contact your local crisis service calling:
111 Option 2 for Mental Health or Mental Health Direct on 0800 995 1000.
If you currently receive a service from a team at NELFT, such as a local community mental health team (including CAMHS) or psychiatrist, then you can make contact with them directly during office hours, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. It may be helpful to refer to your care plan, which should have details of who to contact in an emergency.
I am an adult and I need help
Who to contact if you need help and you already use our services
If you currently receive a service from North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), such as a local community mental health team or psychiatrist, then make contact with them as soon as you can. It may be helpful to refer to your care plan, which should have details of who to contact in an emergency. If it is out of office hours or you don’t know who to contact, you should call 111 Option 2 for Mental Health or Mental Health Direct on 0800 995 1000.
Services provided by other organisations:
If you are looking for support with a particular issue, or would just like to speak to someone, you may find one of the following telephone numbers helpful.
24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline
Telephone: 0808 2000 247
Available 24 hours a day
Run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge. Offers support, help and information to women who are experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic violence.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
Telephone: 0800 138 1111
Available from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday
A charity which aims to help you to manage your debt and understand money.
Credit Crunch Stressline
Telephone: 0300 123 2000
Available from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm, seven days a week
Advice on how to manage your financial situation, including how to manage stress
Drinkline
Telephone: 0800 917 8282
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Drinkline is a national alcohol helpline providing counselling, support, advice and information
Eating Disorders Association Adult Helpline
Telephone: 0845 634 1414
Available Monday to Friday from 10.30 am to 8.30 pm. and Saturday from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Adult helpline for UK residents who wish to talk about eating disorders
Find out about help available locally for you, your friends, or your relatives
FRANK campaign helpline
Telephone: 0800 776600
Available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day
The helpline provides information and advice about drugs and information on local services.
The service can take calls in over 120 languages
Learning Disability Helpline
Telephone: 0808 808 1111
Available from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Provides help for people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, and professionals working in the field
NHS 111 service
Telephone: 111
You can call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time. NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
Call 111 if:
- you need medical help fast but it's not a 999 emergency
- you think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service
- you don't know who to call or you don't have a GP to call
- you need health information or reassurance about what to do next
Samaritans
Telephone: 08457 90 90 90
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Confidential and non-judgemental emotional support whenever you need someone to talk to
Saneline
Telephone: 0300 304 7000
Available from 4.00 pm to 10.00pm
Out-of-hours telephone helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers.
I am a child and I need help
Who to contact if you need help and you already use our services
If you currently receive a service from North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT), such as Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), then make contact with them as soon as you can. Contact details for CAMHS can be found here:
Southend, Essex and Thurrock CAMHS
It may be helpful to refer to your care plan, which should have details of who to contact in an emergency. If it is out of office hours or you don’t know who to contact, you should call NELFT Mental Health Direct.
Services provided by other organisations:
Childline offers support to young people under 19, and they confidentially call, email, or chat online about any problem, big or small. Their freephone 24-hour helpline is 0800 1111 or students can have a one-to-one chat with an online advisor.
The Mix offers a free helpline for young people under 25 between 4pm – 11pm. Call 0808 808 4994 or you can email or text the Crisis Messenger service 24/7.
All local NHS 24/7 urgent mental health lines can be found on nhs.uk/urgentmentalhealth
Nightline offers a directory of confidential and non-judgemental support services run for students by students across the UK.
Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide) provides advice and support for young people who feel like they want to take their own life, and all their advice is confidential. Call their HOPELineUK on: 0800 068 41 41 or text: 07786 209687 (lines are open every day from 9am to midnight).
Samaritans are available 24/7 and offer a free anonymous non-judgemental listening service. They can be reached by phone on 116 123 or via email at jo@Samaritans.org.
SHOUT provides free, confidential, 24/7 text message support in the UK for anyone who is struggling to cope and anyone in crisis. Text SHOUT to 85258. This service is free on all major mobile networks.
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger provides free crisis support and links to a range of support options.
Digital resources:
Calm zone | Childline - Activities and tools, wellbeing exercises and interactive games for under 19s.
Home – Kooth - Online mental wellbeing community for 10 – 25 year olds.
Mental Health - The Mix - Online articles and discussion forums for 11 – 25 year olds.
Self-care tips videos for young people - Every Mind Matters - NHS (www.nhs.uk) - Online self-care video library.
Parents and carers
Support for you and your young person:
Local NHS 24/7 urgent mental health lines (which can be found on nhs.uk/urgentmentalhealth ).
Public Health England’s Better Health Every Mind Matters campaign shares helpful tips for young people parents and carers, including how to spot the signs that your child may be struggling.
YoungMinds Parents Helpline is available for parents, guardians and carers. You can call them on 0808 802 5544; 9.30am to 4pm on weekdays.
YoungMinds Crisis Messenger provides free crisis support and links to a range of support options for young people.
SHOUT provides free, confidential, 24/7 text message support in the UK for anyone who is struggling to cope and anyone in crisis. Text SHOUT to 85258. This service is free on all major mobile networks.
Samaritans are available 24/7 and offer a free anonymous non-judgemental listening service. They can be reached by phone on 116 123 or via email at jo@Samaritans.org.
Papyrus (Prevention of Young Suicide) provides advice and support for young people under 35 who feel like they want to take their own life. All their advice is confidential. Young people and parents under 35 can call their HOPELineUK on: 0800 068 41 41 or text: 07786 209687 (lines are open every day from 9am to midnight).
Helpful resources:
Parents and carers guide: - Suicidal Thoughts | Suicidal Ideation Signs and Symptoms | YoungMinds
NHS App (digital tools and apps to support your own wellbeing): - NHS App and your NHS account - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Tips and guidance - Supporting your child: - Children's mental health - Every Mind Matters - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Suicide prevention training: - Free online training from Zero Suicide Alliance