Important changes across North East London (NEL) are coming down the track to support users of service, carers and the wider community from April 2024.

NELFT along with East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) and partners across NEL, are working together to ensure that people of all ages experiencing mental health crises can access support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

From 2 April 2024 people living in Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest will be able to call 111 and select option 2, putting them through to a fully trained and qualified mental health professional team.

The team has a wide range of skills, including on-the-phone brief psychological support and has access to key services and organisations that can offer mental health support to people in their time of need.

This service will run alongside existing provisions, including the NELFT Mental Health Direct 0800 995 1000. 

If you already use NELFT or ELFT services, then you should continue to contact your service in the ways you had been doing so previously during working hours from 9am to 5pm.

If you wish to contact a mental health professional outside of these hours or if you have not used our services before, contact 111 and select option 2.

We will update our website and keep the wider NELFT community informed as we approach the implementation date and as further details emerge.

If there are any questions or if you would like more information, please contact Crisis Pathway Service Manager, Melanie King, at melanie.king2@nhs.net.