Mental Health Support Over The Holidays
24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line 0800 028 8000
Mental health crisis support is accessible round-the-clock, including at weekends and on bank holidays, by calling our Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 028 8000. The team will help you or the person you care for to get help and support quickly and in the right place.
The crisis line can help:
- Direct you to the right service for your mental health
- Provide helpful information and advice to help yourself or the person you care for manage during a crisis
- Help you to get seen by a professional if you need an urgent assessment and arrange further support if needed
The crisis line is for adults and children of all ages, and to people who haven’t previously accessed mental health services. If you are Deaf, you can call the crisis line using Sign Live. Download the app for iOS or Android.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Crisis Line 0203 228 5980
If you are a child or young person, or a parent/carer concerned about a young person’s mental health, you can contact the South London Partnership CAMHS Crisis Line on 0203 228 5980. The service is open Monday to Friday from 5pm-11pm, and at weekends and on banks holidays from 9am-11pm.
Only call 999 or go to your local A&E department if:
- someone's life is at risk – for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose
- you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.
Recovery Cafés/Hubs
If you’re struggling with how you are feeling or feel at risk of going into crisis, your local Recovery Café/Hub can help. Recovery Cafés/Hubs are a free walk-in out of hours service where you can talk to people who will understand and help you.
You don’t need a referral or an appointment to visit. You can ring ahead if you need any support getting there or would like to speak with a member of staff first.
Please note that the cafés/hubs do not provide accommodation and are not designed to support young people under the age of 18 or those under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Journey Recovery Hub (Kingston), Alfriston Centre, 3 Berrylands Road, KT5 8RB*
Email: recoveryhub@rbmind.org
Tel: call 020 3137 9755
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (6-10pm) and Saturday (2-10pm) including bank holidays - Sutton Crisis Café, 63 Downs Road, Belmont, Sutton, SM2 5NR
Email: admin@smfh.org.uk
Tel: 020 8770 0172.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 6.30pm to 11pm (last admission 10.30pm), including bank holidays - Tooting (Hestia) Recovery Café, 966 Garratt Lane, SW17 0ND
Email: recoverycafe@hestia.org
Tel: 07794 394 920
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 6pm-11pm, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays 12noon-11pm - Sunshine Recovery Café, 296a Kingston Road, SW20 8LX
Email: info@sunshinerecoverycafe.org
Tel: 07908 436 617
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 6pm-11pm, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays 12noon-11pm - Journey Recovery Hub (Twickenham), 32 Hampton Road, TW2 5QB*
Email: recoveryhub@rbmind.org
Tel: 020 3137 9755
Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (6-10pm) and Sunday (2-8pm) including bank holidays
The Journey Recovery Hubs are operating a drop-in service, or you can self-refer by completing their self-referral form or contacting 020 3137 9755 / recoveryhub@rbmind.org
EMHIP health and wellbeing hubs
The EMHIP (Ethnicity and Mental Health Improvement Project) health and wellbeing hubs offer a safe space where community mental health workers will work with you to identify the help and support you need. The hubs provide mental health first aid, wellbeing workshops and individual and group therapies. There are two EMHIP hubs in South West London:
- New Testament Assembly (side access), 7 Beechcroft Road, Tooting Bec, SW17 7BU
- Mushkil Aasaan, 222 Upper Tooting Rd, SW17 7EW
You can drop in to either hub at any time during their opening hours, no appointment is necessary. The hubs are open Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm. They will close on Friday 22 December and reopen on Tuesday 2 January.
NHS Talking Therapies
For non-urgent mental health support and help with common mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression, you can self-refer to Talking Therapies or speak to your GP who can refer you.
Help is available in person, by video, over the phone or as an online course. Find your local service and refer yourself online here: Find an NHS talking therapies services - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Other organisations that can help
Free listening services
If you just need to talk, any time of day or night, these services offer confidential support from trained volunteers. You can talk about anything that's troubling you, no matter how difficult:
- Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
- Text "SHOUT" to 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line, or text "YM" if you're under 19
If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline or chat to one of their counsellors online. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
Other useful contacts:
- Beat
Beat support people who have or are worried they have an eating disorder, as well as others affected, such as friends and family members. Visit Beat’s website to find out more about their online and telephone support services. - Crisis Tools
Crisis Tools helps you support young people in crisis. Short accessible video guides and text resources are available for free here. - Every Mind Matters
Every Mind Matters offers expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing. - Good Thinking
Good Thinking is London’s digital wellbeing service and provides a range of resources for people to help improve mental wellbeing including free NHS-approved apps. - Hub of Hope
The Hub of Hope is a mental health support database. It is provided by national mental health charity, Chasing the Stigma, and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support and services together in one place. - Papyrus
Papyrus provides confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person. Call 0800 068 4141 or text 07860 039967. The line is open 24 hours every day of the year, including weekends and bank holidays. - The Mix
The Mix provides free, confidential support for young people under 25. You can get one-to-one focused support by phone, webchat or email. Find more information on their website here: Get Support - The Mix - NHS
The NHS website has a range of helpful information and advice about getting support for your mental health. Visit Mental health - NHS (www.nhs.uk) - Kooth
Kooth offers free, confidential and anonymous online support and counselling for 11-23 year olds. Their team will be available to provide mental wellbeing support over the festive period. Chat availability dates and times:
