The holidays and festive season can be a trying, difficult time for some people and if you are living with mental health problems, some experiences during the holiday period could make your mental health worse or harder to manage.
The team at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have put together some helpful information about how and where South West Londoners can access support for their mental health over the holidays. It includes:
- 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 the 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.
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, or you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.
- Your local Recovery Café or health and wellbeing hub
If you’re struggling with how you are feeling or feel at risk of going into mental health crisis, your local Recovery Café or health and wellbeing hub can help.
The recovery cafés and 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 go. Click here for the full list of South West London cafés and hubs including contact details and opening times.
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)
You can find more information about the above services and a list of other organisations that can help here: Mental health support over the holidays (swlstg.nhs.uk)
