Mental health support and advice

Many of us will need some help with our mental health at some point, just as we will with our physical health.

Non-emergency advice

• If you are concerned about your mental health, you should see your GP for advice, support or treatment. Find your nearest GP on the NHS website.
• Talking about your problems can really help. You can refer yourself to Camden and Islington iCope who offer free, confidential help for problems such as stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia.
• For non-emergency advice and health questions, you can phone NHS for free on 111
• There are also lots of other local services and support – see the rest of Mental Health Resources on this page.

Mental health emergency or crisis

A mental health crisis means that someone may need urgent help with their mental health. They may have suicidal feelings, attempt self-harm or experience 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.

• You can call 020 3317 6333 at any time, 24 hours a day, for help.
• You may visit the emergency mental health teams in Accident and Emergency (A&E) at one of University College Hospital, Whittington Hospital, and Royal Free Hospital.
• If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Samaritans immediately at any time, day or night, by phoning 116 123.
• If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of physical harm because of a mental health concern or you you are worried about your or their safety call 999 or visit your local A&E.
• Islington Mind’s Out of Hours Crisis Café offers support to Islington residents who are at risk of crisis. The café at Despard Road is open from 5.30pm to 9.30pm on week days and 2.30pm to 5.30pm at weekends. They accept professional referrals and self-referrals by phone Monday to Friday from 4pm to 9.30pm on 020 7062 9890 or email CrisisCafe@IslingtonMind.org.uk.

• Amparo Support After Suicide - Amparo provides support to anyone who has been affected by suicide. The service is free and confidential for as long as people need it to those living in or affected by a suicide in Islington.
• James Place - Life-saving support to men in suicidal crisis.
• The Listening Place - Face-to-face support for those who feel life is no longer worth living.
• Stay Alive app - The Stay Alive app is a suicide prevention resource for the UK, packed full of useful information and tools to help you stay safe in crisis.
• The Samaritans - Samaritans are available – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
• shout - A free, confidential and 24 hours, seven days a week text messaging service for anyone in the UK who needs support.
• Zero Suicide Alliance online training - Take a 20-minute online training and have a potentially life-saving conversation with someone you’re worried about.

• Age UK Islington - Helping you build confidence, feel positive and giving you practical solutions for your health and social care needs, while offering a range of support especially for those over 50.
• Bereavement Islington Council - We are sorry for your loss. If you are in need of additional support there are many services available in the borough to help.
• Every Mind Matters - Expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing from the NHS.
• Give Us a Shout - Text any time, day or night. Messages are private and you don't have to give your name (the service is anonymous).
• Good Thinking - An online mental wellbeing service for Londoners that promotes proactive self-care for the four most common mental health conditions: anxiety, low mood, sleeping difficulties and stress.
• Islington Mind - Providing a range of different types of mental health support and advice for Islington residents.
• Manor Gardens - Range of wellbeing activities, including yoga, men’s group, Muslim women’s support group, coffee mornings and more.
• Mental Health Foundation - Finding ways to prevent mental health problems.
• Octopus Community Network - Network of more than 10 community centres, all offering wellbeing activities and socialising opportunities.
• The Stress Project - Provides a range of low cost and free therapies and wellbeing activities for people experiencing stress-related illnesses or mental health problems. It offers a safe and caring environment and provides a service that treats the whole person (a holistic approach), not just the illness. 
• Stuart Low Trust - Charity working with local people with mental health problems and carers. Provides, workshops, drop-in services, outings and social events.
• Talk For Health - Free to Islington residents registered with an Islington GP, these are training courses in peer counselling for individuals, charities and other private institutes. Participants are encouraged to set up and manage their own peer-support groups with the aim to improve emotional wellbeing and confidence.
• Thrive LDN - Offers range of resources to support your mental health and wellbeing.

• B-eat (Eating Disorders Association) - The UK eating disorder charity specializes in supporting individuals with all kinds of eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, binge eating, emotional eating). They have a specialised youth line and student line to support young people with eating disorders. They also organise online support groups and chat rooms for a peer-supported environment.
• Body and Soul - Offers support and trauma coping strategies to young people and crisis support for frontline NHS staff Resources for Parents and Carers.
• Islington Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) - Visit CAMHS if looking for support for the emotional health and wellbeing of children, young people and families in Islington. You can also call the NCL (North Central London) 24/7 mental health support line on 0800 151 0023.
• Islington and Camden Young Carers Service (ICYC) - Run by Family Action, this service provides support for young carers (including children) in terms of family support, outreach groups and focus groups.
• Growing Together (iCope) support for parents and young children - Helps both adults and children (aged 1-5) in a family with their mental health and wellbeing. Growing Together welcomes families from diverse backgrounds and cultures and individuals who identify as LGTBQ+.
• Kooth - 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.
• Minds Matter at The Peel Centre - Mental health awareness workshops for young people (12-24) or parents of young children (under 12). Sessions are short, informal and interactive, aiming to increase general knowledge about mental health problems and increase knowledge of what local services are available for when people need help.
• The Mix - Digital charity for young people with information and a forum on wide range of topics, including mental health, eating disorders, sex, alcohol, drugs and self-harm. Also offers a phone line for one-to-one chats.  
• NCL Waiting Room - Explore over 300 wellbeing options for young people in Islington and across North Central London.  
• No Panic - Supporting those living with Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and other related anxiety disorders. No Panic also provides support for the carers of people who suffer from anxiety disorders.
• Papyrus - Runs a national helpline to support and provide advice to young people or anyone worried about a young person on suicide prevention. Also provide training courses to professionals on raising awareness to suicide.  
• Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) Services - In Islington, our Social, Emotional, Mental Health (SEMH) services are available to support any young person in Islington who may be displaying difficulties with their emotional wellbeing and/or mental health. You can make referrals through the Children’s Services Contact Team (CSCT). You will be directed to the one you need.
• Young Minds - Range of mental health support for young people and parents.

• The Ashiana Network - Empowers minority ethnic and refugee women, particularly South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern women with culturally sensitive advice, support and safe housing-enabling them to make positive and appropriate choices for themselves.
• Hopscotch Women’s Centre - Helps women and girls from ethnic minorities out of poverty, abuse and into employment, giving them a place away from isolation, moving towards friendship and positive mental health.
• IMECE Women's Centre - A women only community-based charity, aiming to improve the lives of global majority women, also Turkish, Kurdish and Cypriot women. Offers advice, advocacy and therapeutic workshops.
• The Maya Centre - A free counselling service for women experiencing mental health issues which may stem from trauma including domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse in childhood, war and conflict.
• Refuge - Find out what you can do to support your friend or a family member affected by domestic abuse.
• Solace Women's Aid - Supports women who have experienced violence or are at risk including sexual and domestic violence; offers counselling, advocacy and advice.
• Support Line - Provides confidential emotional support to any individual, especially those who are socially isolated, at risk groups, or victims of any form of abuse.

• Good Thinking faith and belief communities - An NHS approved service promoting proactive self-care for anxiety, low mood, sleeping difficulties and stress. It also offers videos and podcasts for specific faith and belief communities.
• IKWRO - Supports Middle Eastern and Afghan women and girls, particularly around ‘honour’ based violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Free counselling service (and other support) in Arabic, English, Farsi and Kurdish.
• Mind Yourself (London Irish Centre) - General support, advice and information, including on mental health, for Irish people in London.
• Nafsiyat (intercultural therapy centre) - Provides psychotherapy for people from diverse communities. Therapy available in over 20 languages.

• Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants - English classes, physical wellbeing classes, support service, support packages. Check website for updates on waiting lists.
• Refugee Therapy Centre - Psychotherapy and counselling services for refugees and asylum seekers.

• Outcome - Safe space to socialise, learn new skills and receive therapy. Drop-in, activities, day trips and peer support groups.
• Stonewall - Supporting LGBTQ+ individuals throughout their various difficulties in life by equipping them with tools and confidence to connect, influence, and enable others in their communities.

• Time To Change - Bring it to your workplace - Ready-to-use resources and activities to challenge misconceptions at workplace, start conversations and change attitudes around mental health.
• Mental Health At Work - The Mental Health at Work website provides resources, tools, advice and recommendations on supporting good mental health in the workplace.
• Mind- Mental health at work - Resources available to help you take small, simple steps to make your workplace mentally healthier.

There are range of free training courses that can empower you to support yourself and your loved ones. Our courses give people valuable tools to help someone in the first instance and are about taking an opportunity to have valuable conversations and to point people to support available.

• Grassroots - Free mental health and suicide prevention awareness training for local Islington voluntary sector organisations. These include Mental Health Fist Aid, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Real Talk (half-day suicide prevention awareness), and Caring Connections (one day suicide prevention awareness). The suicide prevention courses are also available to frontline Islington Council staff.
• Zero Suicide Alliance Training - ZSA offers range of short but effective training on suicide prevention & awareness.
• Public Health training on health and wellbeing - Training that aims to increase awareness, knowledge and skills across Islington around issues that our residents are facing.

• Islington parks - Getting out into nature can be a great way of improving your mental health and Islington has some wonderful green spaces to explore.
• Try a sport - There is a wide of sport and physical activity in Islington that is free or low cost.
• Volunteering - Volunteering can be a great way to meet people and improve the way you're feeling.
• One Islington - Get active advice from Public Health in Islington.

Events

There are a number of places and organisations that offer regular events where you can meet people and socialise.

• Age UK Islington - Age UK Islington has lots of 'Get Together' activities in Islington for people to meet-up and chat (online and in-person).
• Manor Gardens - Manor Gardens’ Services provide support and information for people with drop-in events during the week are open to everyone.
- Live open air exercise classes in Islington Parks.
• Caledonian Park - Events at Caledonian Park.
• Islington Parks - Activities in Islington parks.

• Cost-of-living support - Depending on your situation, you can get advice to help with your budget, finance and debt matters. 
• Support finding work - Support to help you improve your future employment prospects.

• Reading List - A mental health reading list compiled by Islington Library Services for Mental Health Awareness Week 2020.
• Reading well for mental health - A list of book for reading well for mental health for Mental Health Awareness Week 2021.