Resources and information
This page brings together local and national organisations that can provide mental health, wellbeing and practical support.
Urgent mental health help
If there is an immediate risk to your life, or to someone else’s life, call 999 or go to your nearest hospital Accident and Emergency Department.
If you are experiencing an urgent mental health crisis in Kent or Medway, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. This service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Samaritans
Free, confidential emotional support at any time of the day or night.
Phone: 116 123
Available: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Website: Samaritans
Release the Pressure
Free and confidential support for anyone in Kent who is struggling to cope.
Phone: 0800 107 0160
Text: Text STAND to 85258
Available: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Website: Release the Pressure
Papyrus HopeLine 24/7
Confidential suicide prevention support for people experiencing thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned about someone else.
Phone: 0300 102 2470
Text: Text HOPE to 88247
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Available: 24 hours a day, every day of the year
Website: HopeLine 24/7
Local Safe Havens
Safe Havens provide free, walk-in mental health support for adults aged 18 and over. No formal referral is needed. They are not suitable for anyone who needs urgent medical attention; in an emergency, call 999 or go to Accident and Emergency.
Canterbury Safe Haven
Address: 22–23 North Lane, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7EE
Open: 6pm–11pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays
Phone: 07876 476 703 or 07483 163 953
Email: canterbury.mhm@nhs.net
Website: Canterbury Safe Haven
Ramsgate Safe Haven
Address: 42 High Street, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 9AG
Open: 6pm–11pm every day, including weekends and bank holidays
Phone: 07967 877 102 or 07967 877 103
Email: ramsgate.mhm@nhs.net
Website: Ramsgate Safe Haven
Thanet Safe Haven
Address: Thanet Mental Health Unit, 164 Ramsgate Road, Margate, Kent CT9 4BF
Open: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Phone: 07850 655 877
Email: thanet.mhm@nhs.net
Website: Thanet Safe Haven
Support for children and young people
YoungMinds
Mental health information and advice for young people, parents and carers.
Website: YoungMinds
Childline
Free and confidential support for anyone under 19, including telephone support, online counselling and message boards.
Phone: 0800 1111
Available: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Website: Childline
Kooth
Free, safe and confidential online mental health support for people aged 10–25 across Kent and Medway. No referral is needed, and the online platform can be accessed throughout the year.
Website: Kooth
Kent Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Therapeutic Alliance
Support for children and young people experiencing moderate emotional wellbeing or mental health difficulties. The service is generally for people aged 4–17 who live in Kent, attend a Kent education setting and are registered with a Kent GP. It is not an urgent crisis service.
Phone: 01303 667 700
Phone-line hours: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Website and referrals: Kent Therapeutic Alliance
WithYou – Mind and Body in Kent
Free support for young people aged 13–17 in Kent who are finding it difficult to manage their emotions or are worried about self-harm.
Phone: 01795 500 882
Email: mabadmin@wearewithyou.org.uk
Open: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Website: Mind and Body in Kent
The Mix
Online advice, peer support, discussion boards, support groups and counselling for people aged under 25.
Urgent text support: Text THEMIX to 85258 for free, 24-hour support from Shout.
Website: Get support from The Mix
ChatHealth
A confidential and anonymous text service for young people aged 11–19 who would like to speak with a school nurse about physical or emotional health concerns.
Text: 07520 618 850
Available: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Website: ChatHealth
Emerge Advocacy at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital
Short-term support for young people aged 10–25 who attend Accident and Emergency because of self-harm, suicidal thoughts or an emotional crisis. Emerge is not a crisis line.
Hospital support hours: Mondays and Thursdays, 12pm–3pm; Wednesdays, 7pm–11pm
Phone: 07494 736 278
Email: helloqeqmh@emergeadvocacy.com
Website: Emerge at QEQM
General mental health and wellbeing support
NHS Kent and Medway Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub
Information about local mental health services, urgent support, anxiety, low mood, talking therapies, Safe Havens and support for parents, carers and young people.
Website: Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub
Live Well Kent and Medway
Community mental health and wellbeing support, including help with housing, employment, finances, confidence and social isolation. This is not a crisis service.
Phone: 0800 567 7699
Open: Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
Website: Live Well Kent and Medway
National Mind helplines
Mind provides information, signposting and mental health support. These services are not emergency services.
Support Line: 0300 102 1234
Infoline: 0300 123 3393
Open: Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, excluding bank holidays
Website: Mind helplines
SANEline
Out-of-hours emotional support and information for anyone affected by mental illness, including family members, friends and carers.
Phone: 0300 304 7000
Open: 4pm–10pm every day of the year
Website: SANEline
Beat
Support and information for people affected by eating disorders, and for their families and friends.
England helpline: 0808 801 0677
Email: help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk
Phone-line hours: Monday to Friday, 3pm–8pm
Website: Beat support
Suicide prevention and emotional support
Stay Alive
A free and confidential suicide prevention app and web resource for people experiencing thoughts of suicide and people concerned about someone else. The app is a self-help resource and does not replace professional or crisis support.
Website: Stay Alive
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
Free, confidential and anonymous support for adults through telephone, live chat and WhatsApp.
Phone: 0800 58 58 58
Open: 5pm–midnight every day
Website: CALM helpline
SOS Silence of Suicide
A freephone mental health and suicide prevention listening service.
Phone: 0808 115 1505
Open: Monday to Friday, 8pm–midnight; Saturday and Sunday, 4pm–midnight
Website: SOS Silence of Suicide
Domestic abuse and LGBT+ support
Oasis Domestic Abuse Service
Specialist domestic abuse support across East Kent and Medway.
Helpline: 0800 917 9948
Open: Monday to Wednesday, 9.30am–11.30am and 12.30pm–2.30pm; Thursday and Friday, 9.30am–11.30am, excluding bank holidays
Website: Oasis Domestic Abuse Service
Galop
The National Helpline for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime and conversion practices.
Phone: 0800 999 5428
Email: help@galop.org.uk
Open: Monday and Tuesday, 9.15am–8pm; Wednesday to Friday, 9.15am–4.30pm. The helpline closes from 1pm–2pm each day and is closed at weekends.
Website: Galop
Mermaids
Support for trans, non-binary and gender-diverse young people, as well as their families, friends and professionals.
Support Line: 0808 801 0400
Open: Monday to Friday, 1pm–8.30pm
Website: Mermaids support
Bereavement support
Cruse Bereavement Support
Free emotional support for anyone affected by bereavement and grief.
Helpline: 0808 808 1677
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am–5pm; Tuesday, 1pm–8pm; closed at weekends
Website: Cruse helpline
Amparo
Free and confidential emotional and practical support for people in Kent and Medway who have been affected or bereaved by suicide. Amparo is not a crisis line.
Phone: 0330 088 9255
Open: Monday-Friday, 9am–5pm; closed at weekends
Website: Amparo
Drug and alcohol support
The Forward Trust
Drug and alcohol treatment and recovery support for adults across East Kent. Online self-referral and professional referral forms are available through the website.
East Kent Single Point of Contact: 0300 304 8007
Website: The Forward Trust drug and alcohol support
Resources for parents and carers
NHS – advice for parents about children and young people’s mental health
YoungMinds – support for parents and carers
Place2Be – support for parents and carers
All information checked on 5 August 2026. Contact details and opening hours can change, so please use the linked organisation websites to confirm information before travelling.
