Mental health: information, advice and support

Advice on how to take care of your family's mental health and wellbeing, as well as how to get urgent help in situations when someone is in danger. Also available is information on substance use and support.

Urgent help with mental health

 

If you are worried about the immediate health and safety of an individual, please contact the emergency services directly on 999

Do you, or someone you care about, need urgent mental health support?

  • 24/7 support is available over the phone. Call NHS 111, selecting option 2 for mental health. This number is open 24 hours a day and is totally free and confidential.
  • There is also a text message service now available on 0748 063 5199 (responses within 12 hours).

Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafés

There are Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafés spread around Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, run by trained and supportive staff, who are there to listen and provide the practical support you may need when you need it most. All the locations and opening times are on the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust website

If you need extra support for issues with mental health, you can find resources, advice and information about local organisations below.

Samaritans

If you have feelings of distress or despair:

Tellmi

Commissioned by the ICB, this is a free digital mental health service for adults and young people aged 11+ who live in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (LLR). Visit Tellmi digital mental health service to download the app and get started.

Once you register your LLR address details, all the service offers will be available to support you.

LLR NHS Talking Therapies

LLR NHS Talking Therapies is a free, confidential service available to anyone aged 16 and above, who is registered with a GP and living in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland (LLR). However, there’s no need to go through a GP  you can refer yourself online or by phone and you'll be offered a full mental health needs assessment with a mental health professional within 14 days, from the point of referral.

The service supports you with common mental health difficulties such as low mood, anxiety and stress, including when these are triggered or worsened by life pressure, like work, relationships, health issues or major life changes

Access to treatment can begin from around 4 weeks, depending on the type of support recommended. A wide range of evidence-based therapies are available, including one-to-one, group, digital and guided self-help options.

Other LLR Talking Therapies support

Bite-sized learning for busy lives (monthly webinars)

These free, 1 hour webinars run every month and explore real-world topics that matter – from stress and sleep to loneliness, trauma, finances and more. You’ll pick up helpful tips, tools, and signposting advice to support others – and yourself.

Whether you're a professional, volunteer or simply someone who cares, the expert-led sessions are a flexible, accessible way to grow your mental health knowledge all year round – visit Vita Health Group (Eventbrite).

Directories

Joy website (directory)

A large list of support services is now available on the Joy website. The directory can be filtered by location and the type of support or activity you are looking for. The services on the website are provided by statutory partners (eg. the NHS, local authority) and voluntary sector organisations (including many commissioned programmes).

MyChoice (directory)

MyChoice is a directory for care and support services for people living within the Leicester City area. It contains products and services to help you to live as independently as possible.

First Contact Plus (directory)

First Contact Plus is an online tool which helps adults in Leicestershire find information about a range of services all in one place.

Other mental health needs resources

This set of resources is designed to help you find the right support to meet your mental health needs.

NHS Choices - 5 steps to mental wellbeing takes you through ways to improve your mental health and resilience.

Adults

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust - Helpful documents for your mental health and wellbeing

Pregnant women or new parents

If you’re feeling down before or after the birth of a child:

Taking care of babies and young children

Children and young people

You can access services especially for children and young people experiencing emotional difficulties.

Mental health and substance use support

Guidance on the services available to safely support you with mental health issues and/or problematic use of substances – It's important to be directed to the most appropriate service or intervention. In most cases Local Area Coordinators will be able to offer you (or people you work with) the best route for additional support.

Local Area Co-ordination is a person-centred approach which focuses on your strengths and the assets of the community you live in. We look at how these assets be used to improve your quality of life, and make sure your communities are inclusive.

Find out if there’s a Local Area Co-ordinator in your area:

Information for professionals

For more serious concerns regarding someone’s mental health, please refer to Mental Health Crisis Support for information on the services available. You may also find other substance use support information useful.