Urgent mental health support 

Over 18: Anyone experiencing an urgent mental health crisis can phone 111 and select the option for mental health, when prompted, to speak to a specially-trained mental health practitioner. 

Under 18: Phone the 24-hour Single Point of Access on 0800 011 3474 (select option one, then option three)

0800 011 3474

How do you feel?

The symptoms of depression can be complex and vary widely between people. As a general rule, if you are depressed, you feel:

  • sad
  • hopeless
  • lose interest in things you used to enjoy.

It's important you take this seriously and seek help. You can find a list of possible symptoms and assess your mood through the NHS webpage concerning conditions of stress, anxiety and depression.

Self-help and online tools

Every Mind Matters

Every Mind Matters has resources to help you cope with both stress andanxiety. You can build  Your Mind Plan by answering five questions in an interactive quiz.

NHS audio guides

A series of mental wellbeing NHS audio guides to help you boost your mood. You can listen to them privately, in your own time, to help you through feelings such as anxiety or a low mood.

Reading Well - mental health

Reading Well for mental health provides helpful information and support for managing common mental health conditions or dealing with difficult feelings and experiences. 

Books are available to borrow from your local library. Selected titles are also available to borrow as e-books and audiobooks.

More information is also available on  Medway Council or Kent County Council websites, depending on where you live.

Services for you

NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies

NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies is a free and confidential NHS service offering mental health support across Kent and Medway.

Our services include talking and listening therapies, like counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy, to help you feel like yourself again and is available to anyone over 17-and-a-half-years-old.

You can find out about, and refer yourself to talking therapy services in Kent and Medway on NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies website, or via nhs.uk/talk. You can ask your GP for a referral or self-refer by phoning 03330 910414 or text 'KMTALK' to 88802.

Qwell

Whether you are feeling low, grieving the loss of a loved one, going through family and relationship issues and/or feeling anxious, help is there for you through Qwell, seven-days-a-week, 365-days-a-year

Support includes one-to-one text-based chat sessions (available from 12noon to 10pm on weekdays, and from 6pm to 10pm at the weekend). 

If you live in Kent and are aged between 18 and 25, you can access Qwell.

If you live in Medway and are aged 18 or over you can access Qwell Medway. The Medway offer is for parents (perinatal), adults and care leavers.

Live Well Kent and Medway 

Live Well Kent and Medway offers support with keeping active and healthy and everyday living.

Kent and Medway Safe Havens

Safe Havens offer face-to-face mental health support for those living in Kent and Medway and offer an open-door policy for anyone needing help who is known, or not known to mental health services. Find out more about Safe Havens. 

Release the Pressure

Free expert advice from trained counsellors is available for every mental health concern.

Visit the Release the Pressure website for more information

Have you tried the Better Health Mind Plan?

Better Health Every Mind Matters has launched a campaign to support the nation's mental wellbeing. At the heart of the campaign is the free, NHS-approved Mind Plan.

By answering five questions online, adults will get a personalised mental health action plan with practical tips for helping deal with stress and anxiety, boost their mood, sleep better, and feel more in control.

Search the Every Mind Matters website to see what works for you.