Mental wellbeing

Use this guide to find information on how to stay mentally well, and see what services Lambeth has to offer when you are struggling.

Crisis support

If you are struggling with your mental health or experiencing suicidal thoughts, know that you don’t have to struggle alone; there is help at hand.

Try and speak with a close family member or friend, as they might be able help you feel calmer and find some breathing space. If you can’t think of anyone, or would rather not talk to your loved ones, there are people and supportive services that will listen and help you through this time in your life.

24/7 Immediate help: under 18 year olds

Papyrus national helpline: a national helpline is for any young people under the age of 35.
Phone: 0800 068 4141
Text message: 07786 209 697
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Kooth: a free online counselling and wellbeing platform for children and young people aged 10 to 25 years old.
Email: mjames@xenzone.com
Visit the Kooth website.

Shout: free, 24/7 text support for young people across the UK experiencing a mental health crisis.
Text: Text YM to: 85258

24/7 Immediate help: 18 plus

South London and Maudsley NHS Trust 24-hour mental health crisis line
Phone: 0800 731 2864 (Option 1)

Solidarity in a Crisis: A free, out-of-hours phone line for those in a crisis run by peer supporters with lived experience.
Phone: 0300 123 1922

Samaritans: a free to call service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, if you want to talk to someone in confidence. 
Phone: 116 123

The Listening Place: provides free, face-to-face, ongoing support, by appointment, for those who feel that life is no longer worth living.
Phone: 020 3906 7676
Visit The Listening Place website

 

Stay Alive App: an app packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
Website: Visit the Stay Alive app website.

Choose to postpone your decision if just for today whilst you contemplate all this information.
If you don’t feel able to keep yourself safe right now, call 999 or go to A&E. 

If you are concerned about someone

Trust your instincts and reach out if:

  • you are concerned about someone
  • you feel like something’s not quite right with someone
  • what you see or hear seems worrying
  • someone you know well seems different or preoccupied or perhaps
  • you’re concerned about a stranger that seems distressed

Even a little small talk can be all it takes to interrupt somebody’s suicidal thoughts and save their life. We want to give as many people as possible the skills to notice if someone might be at risk and give them the confidence to approach them.

Thrive LDN and Zero Suicide Alliance

The Thrive LDN and Zero Suicide Alliance 20 minutes free online awareness course is a good introduction on how to recognise the signs of distress and how to approach that conversation.
Visit the Thrive LDN and Zero Suicide Alliance website.

Lambeth Council’s suicide prevention training

If you’re still not confident enough and would like some extra training on how reach out to people, you can sign up to one of Lambeth Council’s suicide prevention training sessions.
More about Lambeth suicide prevention training on the Eventbrite website.

South London and Maudsley and Mind

If you have been bereaved by suicide or know someone who has, and need support at this difficult time, South London and Maudsley and Mind offer practical support with things like funeral arrangements, as well as emotional support after the death and during the grieving process.
Visit the South London and Maudsley and Mind website.