Mental Health
As many as one in four people will experience some form of mental illness at some point in their lives. Mental health problems range from reactions to normal life events, such as bereavement, relationship breakdowns and depression, to more complex conditions such as schizophrenia.
If you are experiencing an issue with your mental health it is important to know that you are not alone and that there is plenty of support available to help improve your mental well-being.
The first place to get help is your GP. They are best placed to offer you initial advice on how to deal with your symptoms and talk to you about available treatments and support services in your area.
Help in a mental health crisis
If you are already a service user and you have a mental health crisis during normal office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), your first point of contact should be the person that you usually see (your care coordinator, or named lead professional).
If you, or a friend or relative are experiencing mental health problems for the first time and need emergency treatment or advice during office hours, then you should contact your general practitioner (GP). They will be able to refer you to the most appropriate mental health service in your area.
In an emergency, if your GP surgery is closed, you should call your local Single Point of Access (SPA):
- If you live in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster call 0800 023 4650
- If you live in Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham or Hounslow call 0800 328 444.
Trained mental health advisors and clinicians are avialble to provide help and advice in a crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
NHS mood self-assessment quiz
This quiz uses questions that GPs often use to assess whether someone is anxious or depressed. It also includes links to useful information and advice on mental wellbeing.
There are 18 questions altogether. With each one, you’ll need to think about how you’ve been feeling over the past 2 weeks.
You can monitor any ups and downs of your mood by revisiting this self-assessment quiz at any time.
Coping with mental health
Right now, it has never been more important for each of us to think and talk more about mental health and wellbeing, and to seek support when needed.
There is help and support available for whatever you are going through:
- We offer wellbeing and psychological support, if you are feeling low, anxious or depressed from our talking therapies services. You can refer yourself or speak to your GP or another healthcare professional for a referral. For more information visit www.nhstalk2us.org
- Across London, there is also a range of practical advice and support available from Every Mind Matters, Good Thinking, and Thrive LDN.
- If you feel more comfortable talking to someone you don’t know, you can use one of the following helplines:
- Samaritans are here when life is difficult. They won’t judge you or tell you what to do, they’re here to listen so you don’t have to face it alone. Call the free, 24-hour listening service on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
- Shout is the UK's first 24/7 text messaging service for anyone in crisis. Text Shout at any time to 85258 to start a conversation with a trained volunteer.
Children and young people
CAMHS stands for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and treats young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties.
CAMHS support covers depression, problems with food, self-harm, abuse, violence or anger, bipolar, schizophrenia and anxiety, to name a few.
In North West London CAMHS services are provided by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and the West London NHS Trust.
If you need mental health help or advice for a child or young person in an emergency and their GP surgery is closed, you should call your local Single Point of Access (SPA):
- If you live in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster call 0800 023 4650
- If you live in Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham or Hounslow call 0800 328 444 and choose option 2.
Trained mental health advisors and clinicians are avialble to provide help and advice in a crisis 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Kooth
Kooth is an online mental wellbeing community offering free, safe and anonymous support for younger people aged 11-25, living in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.
If you're feeling sad, anxious, or finding life hard, Kooth is available to support you kooth.com.
Further information
To find out more about mental health and for a range of useful tools to help with your mental wellbeing, visit the NHS.UK website.
There are also a number of charities that provide support and advice to people with mental health illnesses. The links below take you to their websites:
