If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed, or worried about your mental health, you can contact your local crisis service in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option.
What happens when I call?
The phone will be answered by a trained mental health professional who will be able to listen to your concerns and help you get the support you need. With your permission, they can also access your electronic patient records to better meet your needs and to avoid you repeatedly having to tell us your situation. They can offer advice over the phone, put you in contact with crisis services or refer you to other local services.
Who can call?
You can call for yourself, or someone else. NHS 111 is for all ages, including children and young people and those with neurodevelopmental needs.
If you’re deaf or have hearing loss, please use the following link to be connected to the local crisis service – NHS 111 – SignVideo.
If you aren’t able to make the call yourself, then anyone can call on your behalf – for example a friend, carer, loved one or even your GP. You can also access NHS 111 online via 111.nhs.uk.
The service is available to anyone in England and facing a mental health crisis, which could include:
- Changes to your mood
- Withdrawing from people (close family, friends, or work colleagues)
- Not taking care of yourself like you usually would
- Having increased thoughts about your life not being worth living
- Excessive worry
- Feeling out of control or unable to cope
- Feeling anxious about leaving the house
- Hearing voices or seeing things that others can’t
- Thinking about harming yourself.
By calling NHS 111, and selecting the mental health option, we can help to get you the urgent support you need for your mental health.
In emergency situations where there is an immediate risk to life, you should continue to contact 999 or go to A&E.
North London NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression
Feeling anxious or depressed? Struggling with feeling low, not sleeping, stressed and worried? Our trained clinicians can help. The service is effective, confidential, and free.
Watch our short video about Talking Therapies.
Talking therapies are also available in your chosen language through confidential interpreters.
Your GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself at: northlondonmentalhealth.nhs.uk/talking-therapies
Other useful contacts
- Samaritans: 24/7 helpline 116 123
- Mind: Helpline available Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm, 0300 123 3393
- SupportLine: 01708 765200 (hours vary so ring for details)
- Rethink Mental Illness: Helpline available Monday-Friday 9.30am-4pm, 0300 5000 927
- Papyrus: Helpline available every day of the year, 9am-12am, 0800 068 4141
- Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): Webchat and telephone helpline available every day of the year, 5pm-12am, 0800 58 58 58
- Kooth is a free online counselling and wellbeing platform for children and young people aged 11 and 26. It offers support from qualified counsellors seven days per week until 10pm, moderated peer to peer support, self-help resources, forums and discussion groups.
- NCL Waiting Room: Over 300 wellbeing options for young people, families and professionals in North Central London. Co-developed with professionals and local residents, it offers a library of trusted resources and a self-help toolkit.
- North Central London support after suicide service – amparo.org.uk offers support for people bereaved by suicide, who live, work or study in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey. Open to all ages, working with specialised agencies if children or young people are involved. Offers one-to-one and peer group support, by a suicide bereavement worker and a volunteer with lived experience of bereavement by suicide.
Looking after your mental health and wellbeing
Every Mind Matters – Get your free Mind Plan
There are little things you can do to look after your mental health. Just a few simple changes can help improve your mood and cope and cope with life’s challenges.
With the Every Mind Matters online platform, you can get free expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
The Every Mind Matters mind plan offers a free online action plan, approved by the NHS, that can provide you with personalised, practical advice. Your plan can help you to deal with stress and anxiety, boost mood, improve sleep quality and take control of your wellbeing.
Good Thinking
Good Thinking is a free service that helps Londoners cope with stress, anxiety, low mood and other mental health issues. It offers online self-assessments, apps, guides, podcasts, videos and more.