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Mental health crisis
If you are a student and need urgent help please contact your doctor immediately. You can also ask to see someone at the Accident and Emergency department of your nearest hospital. Information about your local A&E services can be found on the NHS 'Find Accident and Emergency Services' page.
Call 999 if you need help straight away.
Other urgent out of hours mental health support:
- The Cove - an NHS Service offering drop-in mental health support for anyone experiencing mental health distress. They are open every day of the year from 14:00 - 22:00 and can meet with you in-person, on the telephone or through online video sessions on Zoom. For the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Cove, call 07827 437081 or drop in to The Lighthouse, Dunbell Building, St Mary's Hospital, Praed Street, W2 1RL.
- Samaritans - for people experiencing high levels of distress including suicidal feelings. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, this service is 24 hours.
- Nightline - offer a confidential listening support and practical information service via instant messaging for students in London. They are open from 18:00 - 02:00 every night of term. Click the 'chat with us now' button on their website.
- NHS 24 hour urgent mental health helpline - you can call this number to speak to a professional in your local NHS mental health service who can help you.
- Shout crisis text service - offers a 24 hour text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.
- HOPElineUK - a confidential support and advice service for young people under the age of 35 who may be having thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned a young person may be having thoughts of suicide. Call 0800 068 4141, Text 07860039967, or email pat@papyrus-uk.org
- Imperial College Health Centre - doctors surgery nearest to South Kensington Campus. Call 020 7584 6301 or email imperialcollege.hc@nhs.net
Crisis Lines
- Students living in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Hillingdon, Brent, Camden and Harrow with a mental health crisis can contact the NHS 24 hour Crisis Line number on +44 (0)800 0234 650
- Students living in Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham and Hounslow with a mental health crisis can contact the NHS 24 hour Crisis Line number on +44 (0)800 328 4444
- Students living in Wandsworth with a mental health crisis can contact the NHS 24 hour Crisis Line number on +44 (0)800 028 8000
- Students living in Berkshire with a mental health crisis can contact the NHS 24 hour Crisis Line number on +44 (0)300 365 2000
Medical help
South Kensington Campus
Imperial College Health Centre have a duty doctor telephone clinic, which runs Monday - Friday between 8:30 - 10:30 and 14:00 - 16:00, for more urgent medical problems. Please contact the Health Centre directly on +44 (0)20 7584 6301.
Silwood Park
Contact Kings Corner Surgery on +44 (0)1344 623 181.
Hammersmith Campus
Students currently need to register with a GP local to their residential address at this campus. Students can obtain advice on how to do so from their local pharmacy or NHS Choices or from reception at the Imperial College Health Centre.
For non-urgent situations Call 111 and speak to a highly trained NHS adviser, supported by healthcare professionals. They will ask you a series of questions to assess your symptoms and immediately direct you to the best medical care for you.
Find more information about support available on the Student Support Zone pages.
External Counselling and Psychotherapy
The following organisations offer low cost counselling in the London areas:
Balham Community Counselling: +44 (0)20 8673 4422
Ealing Abbey Counselling Service:+44 (0)20 8862 2164
FreshStart Psychotherapy: +44 (0)20 7691 7638
Highgate Counselling Centre: +44 (0)20 8883 5427
Metanoia Counselling and Psychotherapy service: +44 (0)20 8832 3080
The Koan Practice 'Koan RC Counselling': +44 (0)7305 056625
Waterloo Community Counselling: +44 (0)20 7928 3462
West London Centre for Counselling: +44 (0)20 8563 2159
Wimbledon Guild Counselling: + 44 (0)20 8296 0030
Private Therapy
The following organisation websites have links to help you find a private therapist:
Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy
British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies
Samaritans
24 hour confidential emotional support to anyone in emotional distress - you can drop into your local branch to meet with a Samaritans volunteer face to face.
The Samaritans can be contacted by telephoneon 116 123 or by email jo@samaritans.org
Central London Samaritans are located at 46 Marshall Street, London, W1F 9BF and can be contacted by telephone on +44 (0)20- 7734 2800
Find your nearest branch of the Samaritans.
London Nightline
A telephone helpline offering confidential listening, support and information to students in London. It is run by students of affiliated higher education institutions in the London area. Open every night of term from 18.00 to 8.00.
Nightline can be contacted by telephone on +44 (0)20- 7631 0101 or by email listening@nightline.org.uk
Nightline offers support through instant messaging, text, email or by telephone
Maytree
Maytree is a registered charity supporting people in suicidal crisis in a non-medical setting. Telephone: +44 (0)20 7263 7070 or email maytree@maytree.org.uk
HOPELineUK
HOPELineUK is a confidential support and advice service for young people under the age of 35 who may be having thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned a young person may be having thoughts of suicide.
The Havens
The Havens are specialist centres in London for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted. Telephone: +44 (0)20 3299 6900– 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Students Against Depression
Students Against Depression is a website offering advice, information, guidance and resources to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking. Alongside clinically-validated information and resources it presents the experiences, strategies and advice of students.
Read more about what you might do if you are concerned about someone.
Sane
SANE is a leading UK mental health charity that works to improve quality of life for anyone affected by mental illness. They have a helpline: 0845 767 8000 and also offer text and forum support.
Support after Suicide
Support after Suicide Partnership (SASP) is the UK’s national hub for organisations and individuals working across the UK to support people who have been bereaved or affected by suicide. They are a subgroup of the National Suicide Prevention Alliance
NHS 111
Offers 24 hour medical advice and information. Contact NHS 111 Service by telephone on 111
Mind
Mind is a charity that offers advice and support to anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They have a number of information pages about a range of topics.
Togetherall
Togetherall is an online supportive community for those struggling with a mental health problem. It is accessed through membership.
Student Minds
Student Minds is a UK student mental health charity.
panic-attacks.co.uk
panic-attacks.co.uk offer a free online course aimed to help control anxiety and panic disorder.
Urgent Care
If you need urgent help please contact your doctor, or Imperial College Health Centre on 020 7584 6301.
You can also ask to see someone at the Accident and Emergency department of your nearest hospital. Information about your local A&E services can be found here - Find your nearest A&E - NHS (www.nhs.uk) Call 999 if you need help straight away
Other urgent out of hours mental health support
Samaritans - for people experience high levels of distress including suicidal feelings. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, this service is 24 hours.
Shout crisis text service - offers a 24 hour text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Text 'SHOUT' to 85258.