People in South West London experiencing a mental health crisis are now being encouraged to call NHS 111 for urgent support, following the full integration of the region’s Mental Health Crisis Line into the NHS 111 for mental health service.
As of today, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust’s 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line number, 0800 028 8000, has been retired, creating a single, simpler route to urgent mental health support.
Vanessa Ford, Chief Executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, getting help should be simple. By integrating our 0800 Crisis Line with NHS 111, people across South West London now have one clear, familiar number to call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“If you need urgent mental health support, or you’re worried about a friend, family member or loved one, please don’t hesitate to reach out and seek help”.
NHS 111 for mental health first became available in South West London in 2023 and is fast becoming a well-established route into crisis care for patients, carers, families and partner organisations.
Anyone, of any age, experiencing a mental health crisis, or worried about a friend, family member or someone they support, should call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
By bringing services together under one nationally recognised NHS number, the change will make it easier for people to know where to turn in a crisis while continuing to provide access to local specialist mental health teams.
Mental health calls to NHS 111 will continue to be answered by mental health professionals, providing high-quality local support and response 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including for children and young people.
The change is part of a national NHS programme to improve access to urgent mental health support and ensure parity between mental and physical healthcare services.
Children and young people, their families and carers will also still be able to contact the South London Partnership CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) Crisis Line on 020 3228 5980 between 9am-11pm every day, as well as calling 111 outside of these hours.
