On Time to Talk Day, Thursday 2 February, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust is reminding local people to contact its 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line – 0800 028 8000 – if they are experiencing a mental health crisis or supporting loved ones who need urgent help with their mental health.
Together with NHS South West London, the Trust has launched a new campaign encouraging people to call the crisis line for urgent mental health support and advice, and only attend A&E for a physical health emergency.
Staffed by NHS mental health professionals, the crisis line supports people living in Wandsworth, Merton, Sutton, Kingston or Richmond. It is open 24/7 to everyone: both children and adults of all ages, and to people who haven’t previously accessed mental health services.
The campaign, which is currently running across social media, includes two of the Trust’s clinicians, nurse and psychotherapist Kirt Hunt and psychiatrist Dr Peju Raji, who feature in short videos talking about the urgent mental health support available to people in south west London.
In one of the videos, Kirt talks about the importance of asking for help and having conversations about mental health: “Please try to access help early. We as healthcare professionals: nurses, doctors, team administrators, we are here to help you as much as we can, ensuring that you get the help and support that you need.
“We try to create environments where you feel safe, where you feel comfortable, where you feel relaxed, so you can have these open, honest conversations about issues around your mental health and wellbeing.”
In another video, Peju says: “Life is tough at the moment. There’s the cost-of-living crisis. People have been through COVID in the last few years and that has been really difficult for many people.
“If you feel like you are not coping, the sooner you access mental healthcare, the better for you. You’ll get the treatment quicker and you’ll recover sooner. The Mental Health Crisis Line is staffed by professionals. They will help you get the help that you need.”
