Contacting the Institute of Psychiatry
Getting help for someone with mental illness
The Institute of Psychiatry and South London and Maudsley NHS Trust are not able to respond to individual medical queries. If you are at all concerned about your health or the health of a friend or relative we advise you to contact your doctor.
Sources of help, information and support inside the UK
In a crisis
If you are having a crisis contact The Samaritans.
Tel: 08457 909090, or visit the web site.
Violence
If you or anyone else is in immediate danger of physical harm contact the police.
The police are generally very sympathetic to issues of mental illness.
Dial 999 to contact the police in an emergency.
NHS Direct
NHS Direct operates a 24-hour nurse advice and health information service, providing confidential information on:
- What to do if you or your family are feeling ill.
- Particular health conditions.
- Local healthcare services, such as doctors, dentists or late night opening pharmacies.
- Self help and support organisations.
The telephone number is 0845 46 47. The service is available in
SANELINE
SANELINE is the only national, out of hours, mental health helpline providing support and information to anyone coping with mental illness. It is open every day of the year from 6pm until 11pm on lo-call number 0845 767 8000.
SANELINE offers emotional support, crisis care and detailed information to people experiencing mental health problems, their families carers, health and other professionals, and all organisations dealing with people affected by mental illness.
For more information please visit www.sane.org.uk
Rethink services National Advice Service
This service can provide advice about severe mental illness. Tel: 020 8974 6814 open Mon, Wed & Fri 10am to 3pm and Tue & Thurs 10am to 1pm.
Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity, works to help everyone affected by severe mental illness recover a better quality of life. We provide hope and empowerment through effective services and support to all those who need us and campaign for change through greater awareness and understanding.
Rethink is the largest national voluntary sector provider of mental health services with over 350 services and more than 130 support groups.
Our wide range of services includes advocacy, carer support, community support, employment and training, helplines, housing, nursing and residential care and services dedicated to black and minority ethnic communities.
We place the people who use our services at the centre of our service delivery. We provide high quality services that are carefully planned, managed and monitored and we rigorously examine our services to find better approaches to their provision.
For more information visit the Rethink website’s local service page or call the Rethink National Advice line Tel: 020 8974 6814 open Mon, Wed & Fri 10am to 3pm and Tue & Thurs 10am to 1pm.