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Mental health and wellbeing

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Mental health and wellbeing

On this page:

Support for adults

If you’re struggling with your mental health – including if you’re feeling down, anxious or worried – there is help and support available.

  • Speak to your GP.
  • Refer yourself for free, confidential support with iCope, or access advice on how to keep psychologically well, at icope.nhs.uk or call 020 3317 6670 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). iCope also offers intercultural therapy in different languages.
  • Visit the Mental Health Camden website to find more local support and advice.
  • Mind in Camden provides local support and advice. 
  • If you’re over 55 and registered with a Camden GP, you can use Age UK Camden's free and confidential counselling service.
  • Good Thinking is an NHS-approved digital mental wellbeing self-assessment tool that provides personalised recommendations.
  • Shout is the UK's first 24/7 text service for anyone feeling anxious, worried, isolated, lonely or for anyone needing support. Text Shout to 85258 to start a conversation - it is a free service.

Support for children and young people

  • If you’re aged between 11 and 18, or a child in your care is, Kooth offers free, safe and anonymous online wellbeing and mental health support. Young people who live in Camden can sign up now for confidential support through a text-based conversation with a qualified counsellor.
  • Young people up to the age of 19 can speak to a Childline counsellor online or by calling 0800 1111.
  • Young people and their parents or carers can access help and support from Young Minds.
  • To find out more about mental health support for young people on the Camden Rise website. 
  • Visit the NHS's NCL Waiting Room website to explore over 300 wellbeing options for young people.

Mental health crisis or emergency

A mental health crisis means that someone may need urgent help with their mental health - such as suicidal feelings, self-harm, panic attacks, flashbacks, hypomania or mania, or psychosis (such as paranoia or hearing voices). 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis and you don't feel like you can keep yourself or them safe, seek urgent specialist mental health support through one of the following routes: 

  • Phone the 24-hour mental health crisis line on 020 3317 6333 to access specialist support. In an emergency, always call 999.  
  • Contact your local GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment. You don’t need to be registered as a patient already.
  • Camden Crisis Sanctuary offers face-to-face, telephone, and online support to Camden residents every evening and weekend, 5pm to 10.30pm. No referral is required. You can also call 07825 165 464 between 5pm and 11pm, or leave a message for staff to call you back. 

If you are having suicidal thoughts, you can also: 

  • Call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 – they're always open and are there to listen. You can also email jo@samaritans.org and receive a response within 24 hours. 
  • The Stay Alive App can be used to help manage suicidal thoughts. It provides information and tools to help you stay safe in a crisis. You can use it if you are having thoughts of suicide or if you are concerned about someone else who may be considering suicide. 

Bereaved or affected by suicide

NCL Support after Suicide Service is a local service that provides support to people bereaved or affected by suicide. To find out more about the service, or to make a referral for yourself or someone else, visit rethink.org, supportaftersuicide@rethink.org or call 07483 368 700. Find out more about bereavement support in Camden. 

Mental health training courses 

Find more free training courses on our public health training page.

Looking after your wellbeing

Some people may be finding life harder than usual at the moment. There are lots of little things we can do to look after ourselves and take steps towards good mental health and wellbeing.

Our wellbeing leaflet (PDF) has information, advice and includes a range practical things you can do to look after yourself and to help others. It also includes information on how to access local support services if you'd like some extra help. The wellbeing leaflet has been translated into the following languages:

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