Where to go if you feel you need urgent help with a mental health issue.

Your doctor

Your first stop should be your doctor. They can usually see you at quite short notice if you explain that the situation is urgent. They know your medical history and can tell you where to go to get the help you need.

Emergency duty team (EDT)  

The north east London adult emergency duty team (EDT) provides an emergency social care service outside of normal office hours. It covers Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest. The service is designed to deal only with emergency situations that cannot wait until the next working day.

Members of the public and health and social care professionals can contact the team if a carer or a vulnerable adult is in urgent need or requires protection from harm. A vulnerable adult is a person of 18 years or over with a social care need. This can include people with mental health problems, physical or learning disabilities or older people. The service includes but is not restricted to the provision of Mental Health Act assessments by an approved mental health professional.

For more information on the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) visit the NELFT website.

Mental health direct

If you currently receive a service from a team at NELFT, such as a local community mental health team or a psychiatrist, then make contact with them as soon as you can. It may be helpful to refer to your care plan, which should have details of who to contact in an emergency.

If it is out of office hours or you don’t know who to contact, you should call NELFT Mental health direct.

If you live in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge or Waltham Forest, you can call for mental health help and advice anytime of the day or night.

We can arrange for you to speak with a mental health professional. We can also advise you about what service to contact to get the support you need.

Calls from a BT landline are the cost of a local call. Calls from other landlines and mobile providers will vary and may cost more.

Patient information

Contact our service in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest

NELFT Mental Health Direct

0300 555 1000 (Open to callers based in the 4 London boroughs above for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)

More information on the Mental Health Direct website.

The Samaritans

The Samaritans are a charity who support anyone who is experiencing distress, despair, or suicidal thoughts. They can give you confidential, non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day.

Contact

Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, Chris, P.O. Box 90 90, Stirling, FK8 2SA

116 123 (UK) Free phone line

Samaritans

jo@samaritans.org

MIND

Mind is the leading mental health charity for England and Wales. They provide support and advice, and work to make sure people with mental health difficulties are treated fairly and with respect. As well as being a national charity, they have local branches all over England and Wales to provide support where you need it.

01708 57 040 (local) or 0300 123 3393 (national)

Mind Havering

reach.us@haveringmind.org.uk 

Big White Wall

Big White Wall (BWW) is a digital mental health and wellbeing service that has been commissioned by Barking and Dagenham Council, and is designated a High Impact Innovation by the NHS. It has no waiting lists and is available 24/7. Big White Wall is professionally staffed at all times, providing help and support to its members at whatever time that suits them.

Barking and Dagenham residents can join BWW simply by entering their postcode on the Big White Wall website.

As an anonymous service, BWW removes the barrier of stigma, helping people who may not normally seek help for their mental health issues to get the support they need. BWW supports many people who are unable, for whatever reason, to find support elsewhere, and helping them find their voice.

73% share something for the first time on BWW. 95% of members report feeling better as a result of using BWW.

Adult Social Care

If you need to contact us urgently outside of normal working hours you can call our emergency social work team. You can explain your situation to us and we will decide how to deal with it and help you.

Getting in touch

Out of Hours Emergency Social Work Duty team

0208 215 3000