Helping our patients stay well over the holidays
Here you will find information about staying well and accessing help over the holidays for patients and service users who are currently under the care of our services.
The holidays and festive season can be a trying, difficult time for some people and if you are living with mental health issues, some experiences during the holiday period could make your mental health worse or harder to manage.
We are here to help you, or the person you care for, to stay well and get support if needed. You can get help from:
The mental health team providing your care
Talk to the mental health team that looks after you as soon as possible if you have any questions, worries or concerns about your care plan and managing your mental health over the holidays.
At weekends and on bank holidays and when you need urgent help for a crisis or emergency, please call our Mental Health Crisis Line.
Our 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line 0800 028 8000
Mental health crisis support is accessible round-the-clock by calling our Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 028 8000. The team will help you or the person you care for to get help and support quickly and in the right place.
The crisis line can help:
- Direct you to the right service for your mental health
- Provide helpful information and advice to help yourself or the person you care for manage during a crisis
- Help you to get seen by a professional if you need a face-to-face assessment
- Arrange for you to come into hospital for more intensive support if needed
- If you are Deaf, you can call our Mental Health Crisis Line using Sign Live . Download the app for iOS or Android .
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Crisis Line 0203 228 5980
If you are a child or young person, or a parent/carer concerned about a young person’s mental health, you can contact the South London Partnership CAMHS Crisis Line on 0203 228 5980. The service is open Monday to Friday from 5pm-11pm, and at weekends and on banks holidays from 9am-11pm.
Only call 999 or go to your local A&E department if:
- Someone's life is at risk - for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose
- You do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.
Our Medicines Helpline 020 3513 6829
It is important to plan ahead and make sure you have enough medication and are taking it as prescribed over the holidays. If you have any questions or concerns about the medicines you are taking, you can call our Medicines Helpline on 020 3513 6829 to speak to one of our pharmacists.
The helpline is open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm (excluding Bank Holidays). Outside of these hours, please leave a message and the team will call you back. You can also email the helpline on medinfo@swlstg.nhs.uk .
Our MindMeds app can help you to log and keep track of your medication. Download it today on Android or Apple .
Your local Recovery Café or health and wellbeing hub
If you’re struggling with how you are feeling or feel at risk of going into crisis, your local Recovery Café or health and wellbeing hub can help.
The recovery Cafés and hubs are a free walk-in out of hours service where you can talk to people who will understand and help you. You don’t need a referral or an appointment to go. Click here for full list of South West London cafés and hubs including contact details and opening times.
Coping during a crisis
The mental health charity Mind has information on ways to help yourself cope during a crisis . This includes calming exercises and a tool to get you through the next few hours.
Other relevant pages:
