If you need mental health support your GP is generally the best place to start, or you prefer you can refer yourself directly to Merton Uplift.
However, if you feel that you can not wait, feel very distressed or think that you can not keep yourself or someone else safe then you should choose one of the following options:
Emergency help
If you or someone else’s life is at risk, for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose, or you do not think you can keep yourself or someone else safe then you should not delay getting emergency help.
You should call 999, or attend A&E if you can.
If you or another person needs help urgently but are not at risk of harm or serious illness, you can use the NHS 111 non-emergency advice online or call 111.
Urgent mental health advice
Please only attend A&E if you have an emergency with your physical health. The Mental Health Crisis Line can help and direct you to the right service for your mental health. 111 is also interlinked with the Mental health Crisis Line.
If you need help urgently, but it is not an emergency the following can be of help:
24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 028 8000 and offers emotional support and advice to people who are affected by urgent mental health issues, at any time of the day or night. It is open to everyone: both children and adults of all ages, and to people who haven’t previously accessed mental health services. The Crisis Line is run by South West London and St George’s Mental Health Trust as part of the Coral Mental Health Crisis Assessment Hub, covering the boroughs of Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston and Richmond.
If you are Deaf, you can call our Mental Health Crisis Line using Sign Live Video Relay Service (VRS): :
- On a computer, go to Signlive website and register using Facebook, Google or email
- On phone, iPad or tablet download SignLive’s app for free and register
You can find Mental Health helplines for other areas here on the NHS website.
Recovery cafes
Recovery Cafés are a safe and supportive space for adults (18 years+) with mental health issues from the South London boroughs of Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton, Richmond and Kingston.
There’s no need for an appointment, just turn up and you’ll be met by a listening ear. You don’t need to book or have a formal referral. You can ring ahead if you would like to speak with a member of staff beforehand.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 6pm – 11pm, Saturday Sunday and Bank holidays 12noon – 11pm
The Cafés will close at 11:00pm promptly each night and customers will be supported to plan their journey home during their visit to the Cafés.
Please note: The cafés do not provide accommodation and are not designed to support young people under 18 years old or those under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Tooting Recovery Cafe
966 Garratt Lane, London SW17 0ND
recoverycafe@hestia.org or call 07794 394 920
Sunshine Recovery Café
296a Kingston Rd, London SW20 8LX
info@sunshinerecoverycafe.org or call 07908 436 617
Need to talk now
Whatever you are going through, there are people you can talk to any time day or night. These services will listen, not tell you what to do and they will not judge you.
Samaritans provide 24/7 telephone support to listen to you and help you to talk through your concerns, worries and troubles. Call Samaritans on 116 123 (UK wide)
Free 24/7 mental health text support in the UK. Text SHOUT to 85258 (UK wide)
