External Support & Resources

Shout Crisis Textline 
If you need immediate support, you can text SHOUT to 85258 and chat by text. The service is free on most networks and available 24/7, and trained volunteers will listen to you, and help you take the next steps towards feeling better. 


 
Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 
Free, confidential help for anyone under 19  
Calls to Childine are free, can be made without credit and will not show on the phone bill. 

SafeCall - Call or text 116 000
If you’re away from home, thinking about leaving, or something just doesn’t feel right—SafeCall is here for you.
SafeCall a free, (totally anonymous) support service for young people. Whether you’re feeling unsafe, unsure, or just need someone to talk to, we’re here to listen, without pressure or judgement.
 
Anna Freud Crisis Messenger - Text AFC to 85258 
This is a free, confidential, 24/7 text message support service for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed with issues such as anxiety, worry, panic attacks, bullying and depression and are here to talk at any time of day or night.  
 
Papyrus - Contact HOPELINE247 0800 068 4141 
For confidential suicide prevention advice
Or Text 88247 

The Mix
For people under 25, The Mix is here to take on the embarrassing problems, weird questions, and please-don’t-make-me-say-it-out-loud thoughts that we have.  
They offer a free & confidential helpline available 365 days a year via phone, email or webchat. They also have discussion boards and live chat. 
Text 85258 for urgent mental health support. 

CAMHS - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services 
You can contact Lewisham CAMHS Mental Health Support Team here and find out more about their work here.

Galop - For LGBT+ support
Galop offer support for LGBT+ people experiencing abuse or violence, such as hate crime, domestic abuse, sexual violence, so-called “conversion therapy” or any other kind of abuse
You can contact their helpline on 0800 999 5428 and it’s open Monday to Friday 10am-5pm and Wednesday and Thursday 10am-8pm.

Education Support
This 24/7 charity is dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of teachers and education staff,
including heads and senior leadership.
Click here to visit
Call them on 08000 562 561  
Text: 07909 341229 
Email: support@edsupport.org.uk 

NHS – 5 steps to mental wellbeing
A summary of five simple steps to help support you with your wellbeing- click here.

Mentally Healthy Schools
A hub of quality-assured mental health resources, information & advice for schools and colleges. ​Visit the hub here

Schools in Mind 
This is a free network for education professionals to share expertise about mental health and wellbeing, hosted by the Anna Freud Centre.  
By joining you can access a range of events, training, consultation and resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of your school or college community - Join here.
You can also find excellent resources here

Helpful videos 
3-minute video on why wellbeing conversations are important - NHS England
Learn to shine bright- the importance of self care for teachers - TEDx Talks video 
Self-Care Planning: Working Towards Wellbeing - Black Dog Institute video 
Small Ways to Practice Self-Care in Difficult Times - Headspace video 
Staff Wellbeing in Schools - Anna Freud video 
Staff wellbeing - Anna Freud video 
What Is Teacher Wellbeing? What Isn't It? - Highly Effective Teacher video 

Family Lives provides help and support on all aspects of parenting. 
Call them on 0808 800 2222 (9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm Weekends) 
Parentline Text 07520 631 130   

FamilyLine is a free digital helpline service designed to offer support for families 
Call them on 0808 802 6666 (Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm) 
Text 07537 404 282 
 
SupportLine aimed at those who are socially isolated, vulnerable, at risk groups and victims of any form of abuse. 
Call them on 01708 765200 
info@supportline.org.uk 

Young Minds, the mental health charity, has a confidential parents' helpline.  
Call them on 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm) 

Relate offers relationship counselling, family counselling, children's counselling, young people's counselling and sex therapy. 
https://www.relate.org.uk/what-we-do/counselling/family-counselling 

Trained experts at the NSPCC helpline can listen to any worries you have  
Call them on 0808 800 5000 
Email help@nspcc.org.uk 
Live Chat nspcc.org.uk/help 
 
Mind
A safe and confidential place to talk openly about your feelings 
Someone to listen to you and help you to find the right steps to take  
Emotional support for your mental health and wellbeing 
 
Call them on 0300 102 1234 (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (not bank holidays) 
Legal line: 0300 466 6463 
Welfare benefits line: 0300 222 5782 
 
South East London Mind
Local Lewisham support 
 
CALM offer accredited, confidential and free support to men anywhere in the UK through a helpline and a webchat service. They will talk through any issue with you and offer support, advice and signposting. Calls won’t show up on your phone bill and are free all phones. 
Call them on 0800 58 58 58 
WhatsApp 0204 5876634 

South East London Mind - This is a charity based in Deptford, South East London SE8 providing low-cost therapy to individuals and families, walk-in counselling without an appointment to those in crisis, as well as support groups, parenting workshops, psycho-educational programmes and activities to improve mental health wellbeing.

Insightful Families – Lewisham 
Offer a free, confidential friendly service for children, young people, parents and carers in Lewisham.

Royal College of Psychiatrists
Have specifically tailored information for young people, parents, teachers and carers about mental health related issues.