Resources for support
Mental Health
Kent services
Mental Health Matters Safe Haven -this is a walk-in service for adults aged 18+
Maidstone Safe Haven
Open: Monday-Sunday, 6pm-11pm
Address: Kestrel House, Knightrider Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6LU
Phone: 01622 809 945, 07484 061684, 07816 362606
Email: maidstone.mhm@nhs.net
Advocacy for All
Provide those with mental health difficulties a voice through one to one advocacy and self-advocacy groups.
www.advocacyforall.org.uk or call 0345 310 1812
Kent and Medway Recovery College
Provide health related educational courses, free of charge, in supportive and accessible learning environments.
www.kmpt.nhs.uk/about-us/recovery-and-wellbeing-college/ or call 07789 944230
Kent and Medway Talking Therapies
Free NHS talking therapies, via GP or self-referral. Easy to access, involving a simple assessment process, which explores how you are feeling and how the service can help.
https://www.kmtalkingtherapies.co.uk/find-your-nearest-service
National services
Mental Health Foundation
Provides information around mental health and learning disabilities
www.mentalhealth.org.uk
MIND
Provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem and campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
www.mind.org.uk or call 0300 123 3393
Papyrus
Support for those under 35 and struggling with suicidal feelings, or if you’re concerned about a young person who might be struggling.
www.papyrus-uk.org or call 0800 068 4141
Rethink
Provide advice, information and a helpline to those in distress requiring support.
www.rethink.org or call 0808 801 0525
Samaritans
Provides listening and support to people and communities in times of need.
www.samaritans.org or call 116 123
SANEline
National out-of-hours mental health helpline offering specialist emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including family, friends and carers, open 4-10pm.
www.sane.org.uk/ or call 0300 304 7000
SHOUT
A free confidential 24/7 text service providing support for mental health.
www.giveusashout.org or text SHOUT to 85258
The Mix
Provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile phone.
www.themix.org.uk/ or call 0808 808 4994
PD and Me
Support and resources for those with a Personality Disorder
https://sites.google.com/view/pdandme/home
Cruse
Provides bereavement support and information
0808 808 1677 or https://www.cruse.org.uk
Drug and alcohol services
Maidstone services
West Kent Recovery Drug and Alcohol Service
Open Access Sessions
Open: 10am - 12pm, Monday to Friday
Address: Mill House, Mill Street, Maidstone ME15 6XH
Phone: 01622 690944
Change Grow Live
If you or someone you know has a drug or alcohol problem, we can point you towards friendly advice and support.
You may have decided to quit, or just need to talk to someone.
You can find all the services and information you need through this website, wherever you are in Kent.
Our services are free and confidential.
West Kent Drug & Alcohol Wellbeing Service - Change Grow Live
Support online or over the phone
Drinkline
Free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else's.
Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm)
Alcoholics Anonymous, whose helpline is open 24/7 on 0800 9177 650. If you would prefer, you can also email them at help@aamail.org or live chat via their website at www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk.
You can join a SMART Recovery meeting online here. SMART holds both face-to-face and online meetings which support people in managing harmful addictive behaviour. The SMART Recovery Programme helps individuals and family members of those who are struggling. They also have women's only meetings and those specifically for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Al-Anon offers support and understanding to the families and friends of dependent drinkers. You can call their confidential helpline on 0800 0086 811 (open 10am-10pm). There are lots more resources for families and friends here.
Nacoa support anyone affected by their parent(s) drinking, including adults.
For more information, visit nacoa.org.uk, call 0800 358 3456 or email helpline@nacoa.org.uk.
Alcohol Change UK
If you are worried about your drinking or even just curious, take our drinking quiz to see if it's likely to be affecting your health.
Social Support
National services
Citizens Advice
Provides support around money, benefit, housing or employment problems.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Family Action
Family Action transforms lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across the country.
www.family-action.org.uk/ or call 020 7254 6251
National Debtline
Support service providing free, impartial, expert debt advice over the phone and online
0808 808 4000 or https://nationaldebtline.org/ for online webchat
Step Change
Free, flexible debt advice to help people deal with their debt and set up a solution
https://www.stepchange.org or call 0800 138 1111
Kent services
Porchlight
Provides support for housing, money, employment and social isolation.
www.porchlight.org.uk/ or call 0800 567 7699
Look Ahead
Look Ahead supports people with a diverse range of needs, helping them to make individual choices, achieve goals and take control of their own lives by providing tailor-made support, care and accommodation services.
www.lookahead.org.uk/our-services/our-kent-services/ or call 0333 010 4600
Helplines
Release the Pressure
Call 0800 1070160 or text KENT to 85258
NHS 111
Call 111 and select option 2
SANELINE
Available 16:30 – 22:30
Call 0300 3047000
Rethink
Available 09:30 - 16:30, excluding Bank Holidays
Call 0808 801 0525
Samaritans
Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
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