Mental health support in Kent

Here are some details of mental health support that is available to communities living in Kent and Medway, and for anyone who may be struggling now Kent has entered Tier 4 restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Who to contact for support

Kent and Medway Safe Havens

Are you feeling distressed, overwhelmed, or that things are too much for you? Don’t know where to turn to get mental health support?

The Kent and Medway Safe Havens are run by Mental Health Matters and offer face to face mental health support for those living in Kent and Medway to anyone aged 16+. No appointment or referral needed.

The Safe Havens will remain open every day 6pm – 11pm despite Kent now being in Tier 4 and will only be closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. They will also now be offering virtual consultations via “One consultation”.

If you are attending any one of the Safe Havens below please ensure you are following government guidelines and attend wearing a face covering.

Canterbury

• Email Canterbury.mhm@nhs.net
• Visit: 22-23 North Lane, Canterbury, CT2 7EE

Maidstone

• Email Maidstone.mhm@nhs.net
• Visit: Mid Kent Mind, 23 College Road, Maidstone, ME15 6YH

Medway

• Email Medway.mhm@nhs.net 
• Visit: Age UK, MacKenney Centre, Woodlands Road, Gillingham, ME7 2BX

Thanet

• Email Thanet.mhm@nhs.net
• Visit: Thanet Safe Haven, Holy Trinity Church, St Mary’s Avenue, Dane Valley, Margate, CT9 3TN

Folkestone and Hythe

Hestia offers an open access walk in service for residents of Folkestone and Hythe who are experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Folkestone Haven is open from 6pm – 11pm weekdays and 12pm – 11pm weekends and Bank Holidays, 365 days a year for anyone aged 18+.

Contact the Folkestone haven:

• Email Folkestone.haven@hestia.org
• Facebook message @hestiafolkestonehaven
• Visit: Rainbow Centre, 69 Sandgate Rd, Folkestone CT20 2AF

Mental Health Matters

The Mental Health Matters phone line is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service is provided by an independent charity. Call 0800 107 0160 to speak to someone in their highly trained and experienced Mental Health Matters team.

Visit https://www.mhm.org.uk/

Release the Pressure

Call 0800 107 0160 to release the pressure if you’re feeling stressed for free confidential support at any time. You can also text Kent to 85258 for 24 hour mental health crisis support via text from trained volunteers.  

This service is provided by SHOUT and you can visit their website here https://www.giveusashout.org/

Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT)

For adults of Kent and Medway, call the 24 hour helpline on 0800 783 9111 if you need urgent mental health support, advice and guidance.

For more information if you need help in a mental health crisis or emergency please visit: https://www.kmpt.nhs.uk/need-help/

NHS 111 online

Help and support available online https://111.nhs.uk

NHS talking therapies

NHS talking therapies services are also known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. Talking therapies, or psychological therapies, are effective and confidential treatments delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners. They can help with common mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression.

A GP can refer you, or you can refer yourself directly to an NHS psychological therapies service (IAPT) without a referral from a GP.

For more information visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/free-therapy-or-counselling/

Kent Together

A 24 hour helpline has been set up to support vulnerable people in Kent who need urgent help, supplies or medication. It provides a single, convenient point of contact for anyone in the county who is in urgent need of help during the Coronavirus outbreak. If you are vulnerable and have an urgent need that cannot be met through existing support networks, you can contact the Kent Together helpline at http://www.kent.gov.uk/KentTogether or by calling on 03000 41 92 92.

Children and young people's mental health services

Contact North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) children’s Single Point of Access on 0800 011 3474 if you need to get help for a child or young person.

The Single Point of Access (SPA) is a team of clinicians who review your emotional and mental health concerns and help establish the best way to support you.

Visit https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-kent-children-young-peoples-mental-health

Young Minds

If your child needs to talk to someone, they can text the YoungMinds Crisis Messenger for free 24/7 support across the UK. Text YM to 85258.

Call the Parents Helpline for detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25. Call for free on 0808 802 5544 from 9:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Here is a list of organisations that can offer you and/or your child support.

Family Line offer help with anger or challenging behaviour, emotional support, parenting advice and guidance on how to manage difficulties in family life. Open Monday - Friday, 9am to 9pm (excluding bank holidays). You can get in touch for free via telephone on 0808 802 6666, text message: 07537 404 282 or email: familyline@family-action.org.uk

Anxiety UK can help if your child is struggling with worries or anxiety. Phone: 03444 775 774. Text: 07537 416 905 or email support@anxietyuk.org.uk. Christmas opening hours:  Monday - Friday 9:30am to 5:30pm (except for Bank Holidays Friday 25 December, Monday 28 December and Friday 1 January 2021).

The No Panic Helpline 0300 7729844 operates between 10am and 10pm every day of the year. It is staffed by trained volunteers and is busiest during the first hour of each shift and the last hour of the last shift of night.

During the night hours the crisis message is played. The crisis message is a recorded breathing exercise that can help you through a panic attack and help you learn diaphragmatic breathing. You can also access the crisis message 24hrs a day by calling 01952 680835.

If you are concerned that your child is experiencing low mood or depression your child can contact CALM which is open every day of the year and offers support to anyone who is feeling down or in crisis. Call the helpline on 0800 58 58 58 (daily 5pm - 12am).

The Mix which is open every day of the year offers a confidential helpline, email, webchat and telephone counselling service for young people under 25. Freephone: 0808 808 4994 (daily 1pm - 11pm).

If your child expresses suicidal thoughts or feelings, and are not at any immediate risk, you can contact for Papyrus support which is open every day of the year.

Its helpline service HOPELINEUK is available to anybody under the age of 35 experiencing suicidal thoughts, or anybody concerned that a young person could be thinking of suicide. The Hopeline is open 9am – midnight every day of the year. Phone: 0800 068 4141. Text: 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

If your child is at immediate risk of harm, you should not hesitate in contacting the emergency services by calling 999 or take them to A&E yourself.

Live Well Kent

Live Well Kent can support you with:

• Managing your money, including debt and benefits
• Housing support and guidance
• Improving your relationships
• Accessing counselling.
• Basic advice on healthy living and helping you set some goals to make positive lifestyle changes
• Supporting you to access a range of free resources including apps and things that are happening in your local community
• Putting you in touch with support to help you quit smoking, lose weight reduce your drinking or drugs intake and look after your sexual health.
• Volunteering
• Community projects
• Arts, music, culture or sporting groups
• Finding IAPT psychological therapies in your area

You can contact Live Well Kent by phoning 0800 567 7699 or visiting https://livewellkent.org.uk/

Mind

Wellbeing Line is now open if you need to talk to please call 0808 196 3898. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday 6-10pm.

Samaritans

Call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org for 24 hour support. They also offer support by email, letter and face-to-face. Visit: https://www.samaritans.org/