If you're feeling low, anxious, overwhelmed or worried about your mental health, support is available. You do not need to be in crisis to ask for help—reaching out early can make a real difference.
Many mental health and wellbeing services in Camden are free, and several allow you to refer yourself directly without needing to see your GP first.
Whether you're looking for advice, someone to talk to, or specialist support, help is available.
On this page:
- Local support for adults
- Support for children
- Mental health crisis or emergency
- If you're having suicidal thoughts
- Support after a suicide
- Free mental health and wellbeing training
- Looking after your wellbeing
Local support for adults
If you're over 18, there's help and support available:
- Speak to your GP if you're worried about your mental health
- NHS Camden Talking Therapies (formerly called iCope) offers free, confidential support for stress, anxiety, depression and insomnia. You can self-refer online or call 020 3317 6670 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Support is available online, by phone, in person and in different languages
- Reach out Camden provides free local mental health and wellbeing support, advice and signposting
- Age UK Camden offers emotional wellbeing support for people aged 55 and over who are registered with a Camden GP
- Nafsiyat provides culturally responsive, trauma-informed counselling and psychotherapy in more than 20 languages
Support for children and young people
If you're a child, young person, parent or carer, there are services available to help:
- Camden CAMHS (Open Minded) provides specialist mental health support for children and young people up to 18 years old
- Kooth offers free, anonymous online counselling and wellbeing support for young people aged 11 to 18
- Childline provides confidential support for anyone under 19. You can ask for help online or by calling 0800 1111, 24 hours a day
- Young Minds offers advice and support for young people and parents
- Camden Rise provides information about local mental health support and services
- NCL Waiting Room offers more than 300 wellbeing resources and activities for young people
Mental health crisis or emergency
If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis and immediate help is needed, support is available 24 hours a day.
A mental health crisis may include:
- thoughts of suicide
- self-harm
- severe anxiety or panic attacks
- psychosis (such as hearing voices or paranoia)
- mania or hypomania
- feeling unable to keep yourself or someone else safe
Get urgent help
If you need urgent help:
- contact NHS 111 by calling 111 and selecting option 2 to speak to a mental health professional. You can also use the online 111 service
- call the Camden & Islington 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Line on 020 3317 6333
- call 999 if someone is in immediate danger or there is a life-threatening emergency
- contact your GP and ask for an urgent appointment
Crisis support in the community
Camden Crisis Sanctuary has evening and weekend face-to-face, telephone and online support, from 5pm to 10.30pm. Contact them by phone on 07825 165 464.
The Lantern (Islington) provides walk-in crisis support for residents of Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.
If you're having suicidal thoughts
If you're thinking about suicide, help is available.
You do not have to cope alone.
You can get help from:
- Samaritans – call 116 123, 24 hours a day, for free
- Stay Alive App for practical tools, safety planning and local support
- Papyrus HOPELINE247 if you're aged under 35 or worried about a young person. Call 0300 102 2470, text HOPE to 88247, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
- NHS 111 – call 111 and select option 2 to speak to a mental health professional. You can also use the online 111 service
Support after a suicide
If you've been bereaved or affected by suicide, specialist support is available.
The NCL Support After Suicide Service (Amparo) provides free practical and emotional support for anyone affected by suicide.
You can also find out more about bereavement support available in Camden.
Free mental health and wellbeing training
We offer free training for anyone who lives, works, volunteers or studies in Camden.
Courses include:
- Mental Health and Suicide Awareness training courses
- Zero Suicide Alliance offer quick, 20-minute, online training on suicide awareness
- Rethink Mental Illness offer free mental health first aid training in Camden
- Making Every Contact Count
Find more health and wellbeing training courses.
Looking after your wellbeing
Looking after your wellbeing doesn't always mean making big changes. Small everyday actions can make a positive difference.
Download our wellbeing leaflet (PDF) for practical tips on looking after yourself and supporting others.
The leaflet is also available in:
Other support
Find information on: