Are your feelings or worries impacting on your health, relationships, work or day-to-day life? You’re not alone – thousands of people in the UK experience mental health issues each year.
Live Well Kent and Medway provides free mental health support for younger people and adults. Our network of local voluntary organisations and charities can help you:
- Better manage your mental health and wellbeing
- Gain confidence and meet new people
- Get help with money, debt or benefits
- Get support with housing concerns
- Access free therapy and counselling-type services
- Find work, volunteering and education opportunities
- Join activities and support groups run by people with similar experiences.
You can get help by contacting us yourself, or someone like your doctor or a friend can contact us for you.
You can fill out our quick and easy online referral form and when we’ve received your details, one of our friendly advisors will telephone you to arrange your next steps. They will take time to understand your situation and help you get the right local support for you.
Alternatively, you can call us on 0800 567 7699 and we will talk you through how we can help you and give the support and advice you need.
If you are in emotional distress and need urgent support, you can contact these services at any time of the day or night:
- Release the Pressure (run by Mental Health Matters) has a free helpline – 0800 107 0160. It also runs a text service – text ‘Kent’ or ‘Medway’ to 85258 for free confidential support
- Kent and Medway Safe Havens (run by Mental Health Matters) can help when your usual sources of mental health support are closed for the night. They are offering face-to-face support, as well as phone and video calls. Visit their website to find out about support near you
- Hestia Folkestone Haven (run by Hestia) can help people aged 16+ in Folkestone and Hythe, including when other services are closed. Visit their site to find out more.
- Mental Health Matters webchat – if you’re not comfortable talking on the telephone, you can speak to Mental Health Matters staff via webchat (which works a bit like Facebook messenger). Visit their website to access the webchat
- Samaritans has a free helpline – 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org.uk and someone will respond within 24 hours
- Kent and Medway NHS helpline – 0800 783 9111