Get support
Free 24-hour support services
If you need help or advice you have lots of options:
- If you can wait to see your GP they can help you find the best service for you
- If you are under a mental health team follow your care plan if you have one, and call your care coordinator (or speak to a duty worker) during office hours
- If you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, attend your nearest A&E in emergency situations
- There are various support services you can contact in both urgent and non-urgent situations, listed below
Crisis Support
Emergency services
Call 999 or attend your nearest A&E in emergency situations where you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust mental health support line
A 24-hour support line for anyone in Southwark, Lambeth, Lewisham or Croydon. Calls will be answered by a nurse who can give advice on mental health, medication and accessing services. Call 0800 731 2864, open 24-hours. Further information available here.
Call 111 or go on the website for urgent, but non-emergency advice
Free emotional support for people living in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. The service is run by peer supporters who have their own experience of facing and overcoming crisis. Call 0300 123 1922, text 07595 864 103 or email outofhours-solidarity@certitude.org.uk. Open Monday to Friday 6pm – 12 midnight, and Sat & Sun 12 midday – 12 midnight.
A free 24-hour support line for anyone in need of help (you don't have to be suicidal to call for support). Call 116 123 or email here
A free 24/7 text support service for those struggling with mental health. Users can text SHOUT to 85258.
A free confidential line for children & young people (you don’t have to give your name if you don’t want to). Call 0800 1111 or chat online to a counsellor.
Focused on the prevention of suicide among young suicide (aged 35 years or younger). Call 0800 068 4141, available 09:00 to 00:00.
General Support
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Information leaflets and resources about mental health conditions and their treatment.
Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems. Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm).
Provides support and advice for people living with mental illness. Phone: 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm).
Provides emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers. A peer support forum is also available.
Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals. Phone: Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm).
Books available from local libraries with information and support mental health
Workshops & courses to support service-users and their carers.
The Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35. Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight) or use the live webchat available 17:00 to midnight daily.
24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
Every mind matters: now more than ever
An NHS campaign to provide advice on managing your mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patient advice and liaison service
Confidential advice, support and information about NHS services.
Addictions
Phone: 0800 917 7650 (24-hour helpline)
Provide substance use & alcohol services locally & service-users can self-refer on 0208 314 5566 or email info.lewisham@cgl.org.uk.
Phone: 0300 999 1212 (daily, 10am to midnight)
Phone 0300 123 6600 A free confidential helpline for anyone concerned about drug use. Chat online 2-6pm or read what to do if a friend or relative is having a bad reaction to a drug
Phone: 0808 8020 133 (daily, 8am to midnight)
NHS resources to help people stop smoking.
Resoruces, support & a free helpline related to stopping smoking.
Alzheimer's Disease
Provides information on dementia, including factsheets and helplines. Phone: 0333 150 3456 (Monday to Wednesday 09:00 to 20:00, Thursday & Friday 09:00 to 17:00 and Saturday & Sunday 10:00 to 16:00)
Anxiety
Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition. Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 09.30 to 17:30).
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge.
Bipolar Disorder
Charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
An interactive internet based programme that aims to improve understanding of the condition. It includes video of professionals and people with lived experience of bipolar disorder.
Learning Disabilities
Charity working with people with a learning disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 0808 808 1111 (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 15:00)
Mothers' Mental Health
Practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Antenatal and postnatal courses. Local networks where you can meet other parents. Support line: 0300 330 0700
Best Beginnings' vision is that parents of all backgrounds have the knowledge and confidence to look after their own physical and mental health and to maximise their children's potential
Mental wellbeing in pregnancy – patient information written by midwives
The Association for Postnatal Illness (APNI)
Telephone helpline and information leaflets for women with postnatal mental illness. Also a network of volunteers (telephone and postal) who have experienced postnatal mental illness. Email: info@apni.org Call 020 7386 0868
The Angela Harrison Charitable Trust
A registered charity which aims to help women and their families by raising awareness and providing information about postnatal depression/illness
Action on Postpartum Psychosis
A national charity for women and families affected by postpartum psychosis. Provides information and peer support, including online forums and workshops
Bipolar Disorder, Pregnancy and Childbirth
Information about pregnancy and childbirth for women with Bipolar Disorder and their families. This guide has been produced by Action on Postpartum Psychosis, Bipolar UK and the National Centre for Mental Health.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Voluntary charity offering support for sufferers of panic attacks and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Offers a course to help overcome your phobia or OCD.
Phone: 0844 967 4848 (daily, 10am to 10pm). Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone provider's Access Charge.
Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources. Phone: 0845 390 6232 or 020 7253 2664, Monday to Friday 09:30 to 20:00. Support is also available via email.
Charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments. Phone: 0333 212 7890, Monday to Friday, 09:30 to 15:30.
Psychosis
A website with information & resources about psychosis and schizophrenia
Information about psychosis
Physical Health
Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19)
NHS support about losing weight
NHS support about maintaining a healthy diet
Information about exercise & physical activity
Information about physical activity & mental health
Medication Information
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Leaflet resources about a variety of mental health medications
A medication directory of mental health medications
Information and resources about mental health medications
Abuse (domestic, sexual and child abuse)
Advice on dealing with domestic violence. Phone: 0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline)
Emotional support, information and details of local services available on 0808 802 9999 (daily, 12pm to 2.30pm and 7pm to 9.30pm). The website also has a live webchat.
Phone: 0808 168 9111 (24-hour helpline). The website also has an online webchat.
Children's charity dedicated to ending child abuse and child cruelty. Phone: 0800 1111 for Childline for children (24-hour helpline) or 0808 800 5000 for adults concerned about a child (24-hour helpline)
Accommodation
Information & support related to housing
Homeless helpline & advice for those aged 16-25
Bereavement
Phone: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Bereavement support and information resources
Miscarriage Association offer a helpline 01924 200 799 available Monday to Friday 09:00 to 16:00
Bereavement support for those affected by death of a baby before, during or after birth. Helpline is 0808 164 3332, available 10:00 to 15:00 Monday to Friday & 18:00 to 21:00 Tuesday & Thursday.
Offer bereavement support service for families who have lost a baby or child on 0808 802 6868 available Monday to Friday 10:00 to 17:00, and weekends 18:00 to 22:00.
Finances
National charity providing information & financial support to people in financial need
Service with advice on financial support, housing & debt
Information and support with finances
Information & support with finances
Offer webchat & helpline about financial issues
Legal
A specific legal information/advice line on 0300 466 6463, open Monday to Friday 09:00-18:00.
Offending & the Justice System
Helpline offering support to offenders, ex-offenders & their families
Lucy Faithful Foundation/Stop it Now
A helpline & live-chat service for anyone concerned about child sexual offending (including adults experiencing thoughts/behaviours/investigations related to this)
Refugees & Asylum Seekers
A 24/7 helpline for those seeking asylum on 0808 8010 503.
Signposting and support for refugees & asylum seekers.
Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network
Support & advice for those experiencing difficulties from refugee & migrant communities.
Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers
Support with poverty, distress and education.
Supports refugees or asylum seekers who are survivors of human cruelty. Service-users can self-refer online.
Family, Friends and Carers
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust have a Carer FAQs resource, a handbook for families and guidance on confidentiality and sharing information with carers on their website
1:1 support, counselling, information on carers’ rights, leisure, educational and vocational activities. Call 020 7708 4497, email info@southwarkcarers.org.uk
Advice, information, emotional support, groups and events, and have a specialist team for young carers (under 18). Call 0207 501 8970, email connect@carershub.org.uk
1:1 support & advocacy, counselling, monthly drop-ins, groups on coping strategies and recovery, services for young carers and carers of people with dementia. Call 020 8699 8686, email info@carerslewisham.org.uk
Croydon Carers' Information Service
Information, advice and run sessions and activities including benefits, pilates, employment, craft and social meetings. Call 020 8649 9339, email info@carersinfo.org.uk
A national charity creating a supportive community and movement for change
A national charity working to improve support, services and recognition for unpaid carers
UK charity supporting children and young people affected by the mental health problems of a parent or sibling
Support and practical help for families affected by mental health problems and other challenges such as substance misuse and domestic violence. Call 020 7254 6251 email info@family-action.org.uk
Charity offering advice for parents, grandparents and other relatives on all aspects of parenting. Helpline, volunteer befrienders, community support groups. Call 0808 800 2222