Simple Signposting to Better Health and Wellbeing

Self-care and National Support Services

NATIONAL SUPPORT

Do you think you would benefit from some further support to reduce your drinking to 'lower risk' levels?

• Speak to your GP, a loved one or call Drinkline 0300 1231110 (Mon-Fri 9am - 8pm, weekends 11am - 4pm). The Drinkline service provides free, confidential, accurate and consistent information and advice to callers who are concerned about their own or someone else`s drinking regardless of the caller`s age, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or spirituality.
• The 'One You' drinks tracker app makes it easy to keep an eye on the booze and take control with daily tips and feedback.
• NHS Better Health have a 'Drink Free Days' app and tips on how to reduce alcohol consumption. 
• Mutual Aid services including twelve step programmes and Smart Recovery are available to anyone who wants support to address their drug or alcohol use. You can find a meeting here:
  • Alcoholics Anonymous https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/
  • Narcotics Anonymous https://online.ukna.org/
  • Cocaine Anonymous https://www.ca-online.org/
  • SMART Recovery https://smartrecovery.org.uk/online-meetings/

SELF CARE 

Further tips on cutting down

Make a plan
Before you start drinking, set a limit on how much you're going to drink.

Set a budget
Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol.

Let them know
If you let your friends and family know you're cutting down and it's important to you, you could get support from them.

Take it a day at a time
Cut back a little each day. That way, every day you do is a success.

Make it a smaller one
You can still enjoy a drink, but go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer instead of pints, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one.

Have a lower-strength drink
Cut down the alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength (ABV in %). You'll find this information on the bottle.

Stay hydrated
Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or a soft drink.

Take a break
Have several drink-free days each week.  

Local Support Services

Support for Camden residents

Change Grow Live offer drug and alcohol support anyone living or registered with a GP in Camden, including:

• advice on keeping safe 
• emotional support and counselling 
• group work 
• online courses 
• medically assisted treatment 
• access to different detox and rehab options 
• peer support 
• recovery support, including education, training and employment advice 
• onward referrals to specialist services 

To find out more about the service and get support, visit the Change Grow Live website.

You can also: 

• call 020 7485 2722
• email camden.referrals@cgl.org.uk
• speak to the service online by webchat

 

Support for people experiencing homelessness

v-i-a Inroads offer drug and alcohol support for people who are sleeping rough or vulnerably housed, including:

• Advice and information around health and wellbeing
• Strength-based assessments of needs
• Specialist women's support
• Harm reduction advice and support, including providing Naloxone
• One-to-one support with an allocated keyworker
• Drop-in sessions at local community venues
• Prescribing for those who need access to opiate treatment
• Referrals into a range of different support groups

If you’d like to refer someone you are working with to Inroads, you can visit their website here or contact them on:

Phone: 0300 303 4545

Email: inroads.camden@viaorg.uk

 

Support for young people

FWD support young people across Camden who want to find out more about drug use, including alcohol. They work with young people aged 8 to 25 years old who are registered with a Camden GP, a resident in Camden or attend school in Camden. They also work with looked after young people placed with carers outside of the borough.

To refer someone or find out more, you can:

• email FWD@camden.gov.uk
• call 020 7974 4701 
• use their online referral form

 

Drugs Misuse (Shared Care) Locally Commissioned Service

Drug support service using a joint treatment plan with CGL.

Link for which GPs provide the Drugs Misuse LCS

 

Needle Exchange Locally Commissioned Service

Walk-in service providing sterile needles and syringes, and sharps containers for the return of used equipment.

Link for which Pharmacies provide the Needle Exchange LCS

Self-care and National Support Services

National Support Services

The Money Helper Service was set up by the Government and offers free impartial advice including

• Advice and guides to help improve your finances
• Tools and calculators to help keep track and plan ahead
• Support over the phone and online

https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en

0800 1387777 (free phone)

Citizens Advice Service

The Citizens Advice Service can help you to make the right choices, including help to deal with your debt problems, how to avoid losing your home and how to get your finances back into shape.  Citizens Advice also offer advice on Benefits and Tax credits as it's important to make sure that you get all the help that you're entitled to.

03444 111 444

National Debtline

National Debtline has helped millions of people with their debts. They'll talk you through options and give clear advice on how to take back control.

0808 808 4000

StepChange Debt Charity

StepChange helps change the lives of thousands of people every week. Their expert advice is impartial and personalised to each individual situation.

0800 138 1111

PayPlan

PayPlan's supportive, non-judgemental team of advisers help thousands of people beat their debts every year, and treat all of their calls with the strictest confidence.

0800 280 2816

Debt Advice Foundation

The Debt Advice Foundation is a national debt advice and education charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about debt.

0800 622 61 51

Credit Unions

Credit unions can help those who can't get access to ordinary bank products.

Rising cost of Energy

If you are struggling to pay for energy or think you may get into difficulty, contact your supplier.

The energy regulator rules mean suppliers must offer payment plans you can afford and you can ask for ‘emergency credit’ if you use a prepay meter and can’t top up.

Save money off your Gas Bill

Turning down a single setting will make your boiler work more efficiently, saving around £129 a year for the average household.  It only takes a few minutes to lower your flow temperature, and it can be changed back instantly. There’s nothing to lose by trying it.  Advice from Nesta, the UK's innovation agency for social good.

Walkthrough - Money Saving Boiler Challenge

Local Support Services

https://www.camden.gov.uk/find-support-in-camden

Mayor of London - Borough Support

This Hub contains information about benefits, grants and discounts you can get if you are in financial difficulty, from the Mayor of London, the government, your local council, charities and advice centres.

 

NHS Healthy Start

NHS Healthy Start scheme provides a nutritional safety net and improves access to a healthy diet for low-income families. It is a universal scheme offering financial support to pregnant people and families with kids under 4 to buy healthy food, milk, infant formula, and vitamins. Those eligible are sent a Healthy Start pre-paid card. Money gets topped up on the card every 4 weeks and is in the range of:

• £4.25 each week of your pregnancy from the 10th week
• £8.50 each week for children from birth to 1 year old
• £4.25 each week for children between 1 and 4 years old

To find out more and to apply, visit  Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start)

If you need help applying in Camden, you may call Freephone 0800 731 0232 or 0800 389 5789 or visit your local Children’s Centre & Family Hubs.

Self-care and National Support Services

Self Care

The NHS Better Health website has a range of resources, tips and apps available to help with weight management and encourage a nutritious diet.  

NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

A GP or pharmacist can refer a person to the NHS Digital Weight Management Programme if the individual comes into the following category: 

• They are aged 18 or over.
• They have a BMI greater than 30. (The BMI threshold will be lowered to 27.5 for people from black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds, as we know people from these ethnic backgrounds are at an increased risk of conditions such as Type 2 diabetes at a lower BMI.)
• They have diabetes, high blood pressure, or both.
• They have a smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.
  
  

Local Support Services

Tier 2 Adult Weight Management Service

Psychologically informed 12-week programme supporting individuals with weight management and lifestyle changes. Includes access to weekly, group-based weight management sessions. 

Self-Referral: Patients can self-refer by calling 033 3222 1333, or by filling out self-referral form on the MoreLife website: https://myclientgenius.com/self-referral/cami/new

GP and Health Professional Referral: GPs and health professionals can refer by completing MoreLife T2 Adult Weight Management Service Camden & Islington - Referral Form on EMIS and send it to: morelife.camdenandislington@nhs.net

 

Health and Wellbeing Team (Camden Council)

4 and 6 week healthy lifestyle programmes for families with children aged 2-11 years including healthy eating, active play and cooking.

Website: http://cindex.camden.gov.uk/kb5/camden/cd/service.page?id=fXNL8Y6CGYo

Telephone: 020 7974 6736 

Email: healthandwellbeingteam@camden.gov.uk 

Self-care and National Support Services

If you think the person you are concerned about is in immediate danger or needs urgent care, please call 999.

Whilst there are some amazing national services available, we recommend a local first approach. A list of local services can be found at the foot of this text.

Not sure which local authority area to choose? If you know a postcode you can check which local authority area here.

Street Link is a national service which can be used by members of the public if they see people sleeping rough. Referrals can be made online or via telephone (0300 500 0914).

Supporting access to primary care

Groundswell have produced and widely circulated small, plastic, credit card-style cards called ‘My Right to Healthcare’. These cards emphasise the person’s right to register and highlight that they may need assistance to complete forms and help with reading and understanding. The cards can be used to remind GP receptionists and other practice staff of the national patient registration guidance from NHS England. The cards are freely available and can be downloaded and printed locally.

Local Support Services

Homelessness in Camden - Camden Council

In addition to the persons written or verbal consent, try to gather the following information to include on the duty to refer form.

• Person’s name
• Contact details – include a mobile phone number
• Address (if any)
• Household members / Next of Kin – if known
• Any other support needs, health issues or vulnerabilities

While someone can apply to any local authority, they should be made aware that the local authority might refer them to another local authority if they do not have a local connection to the area where they are applying for assistance. Local authorities should not refuse to accept a homeless application because a person does not have a local connection and must still provide emergency accommodation if the person is vulnerable or has significant health and social support needs.

Self-care and National Support Services

The London Damp and Mould Checklist is designed by London’s public health system partners, who have worked together to produce a checklist resource for use by health and social care professionals who visit residential properties as part of their management and care of patients.

It provides a checklist and guidance to support the identification of internal damp and mould, as well as people at risk of poor health due to damp and mould exposure in their home. There is also an emphasis on prevention of damp and mould for all residents.

Where concerns are identified this resource provides guidance for tenants on actions to take in the form of advice, signposting, and template letters to inform local authority housing teams, housing associations, landlords and health services of any concerns.

 

We would really value your feedback on this resource.

To provide feedback, please email LondonDampandMould@dhsc.gov.uk  

 

Local Support Services

https://www.camden.gov.uk/housing

Mayor of London - Borough Support

The Mayor of London is funding free local advice services for vulnerable Londoners and those on low incomes: Warmer Homes Advice Service in your borough

If a tenant is concerned about a private landlord, they can consider reporting them through the GLA’s rogue landlord process.

Self-care and National Support Services

If someone needs help for a mental health crisis, emergency or breakdown, you should seek immediate expert advice and assessment. It's important to know that support is available, even if services seem busy at the moment because of coronavirus.

Scrolling down to the local listings below will provide you with a crisis line number to use in an emergency for each London borough.

However, if someone’s life is at risk – for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose and you do not feel that you can keep yourself or someone else safe you should call 999.

A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

If you are not able to speak to your local NHS urgent mental health helpline and you need help urgently for a mental health issue, but it's not an emergency, you should call 111 who will tell you the right place to get help.

 

If you are worried that this person is at risk of suicide, please also see the section for Suicide Prevention.

You can also encourage them to ring:

Samaritans - (All age groups)

Tel: 116 123, open 24 hours a day.

Papyrus - (Young people)

Tel: 0800 068 41 41

Text: 07786209697

Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Opening hours - Mon-Fri: 10am-10pm, weekends: 2pm-10pm & bank holidays: 2pm-5pm

If you're under 19, you can also call 0800 1111 to talk to Childline. The number will not appear on your phone bill.

 

Coping during a crisis

The mental health charity Mind has information on ways to help yourself cope during a crisis.

This includes calming exercises and a tool to get you through the next few hours.

Local Support Services

C&I Crisis Team

If you are already cared for by our mental health services call 020 3317 6333. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you are not under the care of mental health services call the C&I Crisis Team 020 3317 6777. This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger or risk of harm phone 999
 
Emergency department: In an emergency you can always go to the emergency department at your local hospital. They will be able to assess your mental state and treat accordingly. In most emergency departments a psychiatric liaison nurse is available.

Website: https://mentalhealthcamden.co.uk/get-help-0

Telephone: 0800 917 3333

 

Camden Crisis Sanctuary

Camden Crisis Sanctuary offers face-to-face, telephone, and online support to Camden residents every evening and weekend, 5pm to 10.30pm. No referral is required. You can also call 07825 165 464 between 5pm and 11pm, or leave a message for staff to call you back. 

Self-care and National Support Services

The following resources are available to support people who are experiencing mental health challenges, however if they are in crisis and need urgent access to support, please go to the URGENT MENTAL HEALTH section of MECC Link where you can find local support services for mental health emergencies.

For non-urgent mental health support, encourage the person to contact their GP.  Always give reassurances that there are lots of sources for support, however they wish to access and use them.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see listings of local support services in their borough.

Self Care Resources

• Good Thinking provides digital mental wellbeing support for Londoners. This includes free NHS-approved apps to help you deal with stress, anxiety, low mood and poor sleep. 
• Every Mind Matters is an NHS-approved digital hub full of expert advice and practical tips to achieve good mental health. 
• The NHS have other self-help tools available, including 5 steps to mental wellbeing.
• Mind 'The charity for better mental health' has an extensive range of self help resources available.
• For Men -CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer accredited, confidential and free support to men anywhere in the UK through a helpline and web and webchat service.

Support Services

Adults

Adults can self-refer to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. IAPT is a national NHS programme, which offers evidence based psychological therapies or interventions approved by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). IAPT is primarily for treating people with mild to moderate mental health issues such as anxiety disorders, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

IAPT treatments are delivered via a stepped care model where patients are initially offered low intensity therapies, such as computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) and guided self-help. If these treatments are unsuccessful, or not appropriate for individuals, higher intensity therapies are utilised and include one to one cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT). Please see local support and contact details for further information.

Children and Young People

The Mix is a leading support service that can help young people to take on challenges they are facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. 

0808 0808 4994 (Freephone)

Parents

YoungMinds run a free, confidential parents helpline, which parents/careers can call if they are worried about how a child or young person is feeling or behaving.  They also run a group called Parents Say, for parents whose children are accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Perinatal

The PANDAS Foundation supports and advises parents who is experiencing a perinatal mental illness. They also inform and guide family members, carers, friends and employers as to how they can support someone who is suffering.

0843 2898401 (0900 - 2000 hrs, 7 days per week)

Carers

The Carers Trust contains helpful guides for carers on relationship management and information on self-care and respite care.

Refugees and asylum seekers

Thrive LDN have produced a number of resources designed to support new arrivals to the UK, including:

• Guidance for supporting the mental health and wellbeing of displaced Ukrainians
• Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Afghan refugees
• Wellbeing guidance in 36 languages

Good Thinking’s 'Coping with Trauma' workbook outlines seven techniques to help people who have experienced trauma.

Veterans

Veterans Combat Stress is the UK's leading mental health charity for veterans. They offer free, confidential 24-hour support to Service and ex-Service personnel who are experiencing mental health issues, including feeling suicidal.

0800 138 1619

Local Support Services

Camden iCope NHS Talking Therapies service

Self or GP referral. Provides services for people with common mental health problems such as stress, depression, anxiety or insomnia. Offer a range of goal-focused, evidence based, psychological interventions to people with common mental health problems who are likely to benefit from them

Website: www.icope.nhs.uk/contact-us/

Self-Referrals: https://www.icope.nhs.uk/request-an-appointment/

GP or Health Professional Referrals:

Telephone: 020 3317 5600

Email: cpts@candi.nhs.uk

‘Open-minded’ -  Camden Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)

Service can assess and treat the full range of emotional and behavioural difficulties in childhood and adolescence. The service sees children and young people up the age of 18 who are looking for help around:
• anxiety
• panic
• fears and phobias
• difficulties adjusting to new situations
• depression
• mood swings
• bereavement
• aggression
• challenging behaviour
• hyperactivity
• eating problems
• severe issues with mental health including psychosis

Website: https://tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/care-and-treatment/our-clinical-services/open-minded-camden-camhs/

Telephone: 020 8938 2241

Email: tpn-tr.CYAF-Intake@nhs.net

 

Support After Suicide 

Amparo provides support to anyone who has been affected by suicide; the service is free and confidential, for as long as people need it. People can be referred by a professional or self-refer.

Website: https://amparo.org.uk/refer/

 

 

Self-care and National Support Services

 Self Care

• The Couch to 5K phone app has been designed to help get people off the couch and running in just 9 weeks.
• The Active 10 phone app show you how how much brisk walking you do and helps to show you how you can fit a ten minute brisk walk into your day. It breaks this brisk walking down into manageable chunks of ten minutes and encourages at least one session every day (which equates to 70 minutes a week). Users can set their own goals and the app encourages people to progress up to 30 brisk minutes of walking per day, to meet the 150 minutes recommended by the Chief Medical Officer
• Why not join a Parkrun in your local area? Did you know that one of the best things about Parkrun and Junior Park run is that you can run, or jog or walk entirely at your own pace. This makes it accessible for those who never could envisage running 2k or 5k and creates an environment where people feel welcome.

Active Travel Toolkit

The Greater London Authority have produced a toolkit to support healthcare professionals to social prescribe active travel.

Local Support Services

We Can Move

Website: https://www.wecanmove.co.uk/

Self-care and National Support Services

Reassure them that sexual health services are confidential, and free of charge in most cases.

Self Care

For information about sexual health, STIs, HIV and contraception visit Sexwise, It Starts With Me or the NHS website.

The Sexual Health Helpline provides advice and information on all aspects of sexual health, call free on 0300 123 7123 (open from 9am-8pm, Monday-Friday and Saturday-Sunday 11am to 4pm). Calls will be treated with sensitivity and in strict confidence.

Contraception Choices is designed to help people decide which method of contraception might suit them best and provides honest information on the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

Community Pharmacies

Emergency hormonal contraception is effective up to five days after sex and is available from most community pharmacies. Some pharmacies may charge for this service, so it is advised to call ahead to check what they offer.

Click here to find a pharmacy

General Practice

If registered with a GP, routine contraception and, in some cases, Long-Acting Reversible methods (such as an Interuterine Device/’coil’ or a contraceptive injection or implant) can be provided. Suggest contacting local practice directly to find out what they can offer.

Click here to find a GP

Support for victims of sexual assault

The Havens provide specialist centres across London for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted. For urgent advice and an initial assessment call 020 3299 6900.

Other local services

Go to the local support section for information on what is available in each borough.

Local Support Services

Integrated Sexual Health Services

Sexual health services for adults aged 18 and over, provided by Central and North West London Foundation Trust.

Website: https://www.sexualhealth.cnwl.nhs.uk/

 

CAMISH

Sexual health services for people aged 24 and under in Camden and Islington. Offers sexual health screening, contraception, pregnancy testing and wellbeing support.

Website: https://www.brook.org.uk/regions/camish/

 

Sexual Health and LARC Locally Commissioned Service

GP provided testing for sexually transmitted infections, sexual health advice, provision of free condoms, and in-practice referrals for contraception, including Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) service

List of GP practices providing sexual health services

List of GP practices providing Long-Acting Reversible Contraception services

 

Emergency Hormonal Contraception Locally Commissioned Service

Community Pharmacy provision of emergency hormonal contraception following an incident of unprotected sex for 13-24 year olds.

List of pharmacies providing Emergency Hormonal Contraception services

 

Sexual Health Online Services

Anyone aged over 16 can register with Sexual Health London for this free, confidential, and discrete sexual health service. Once registered, the service can issue an STI testing kit for people with mild or no symptoms, they can be posted to their home or collected from a clinic. Users take their own samples and post the kit back to the laboratory. Test results are available a few days later and telephone support is provided.

This service requires registering online and is best accessed via a mobile phone for confidentiality, so do encourage the person you are talking with to register.

Specialist Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinics

People who are aged under 16 years and people with serious symptoms that could indicate a sexually transmitted infection are advised to contact a face-to-face clinic. These clinics can also provide a wide range of contraception including Long-Acting Reversible Methods e.g. coils and implants.

Click here to find a clinic via Sexual Health London

HIV prevention and outreach

Do It London provides highly effective treatment and prevention strategies for HIV. The London HIV Prevention Programme hosts information and resources about U=U, PrEP, condoms and a range of HIV testing services across London.

Free condoms for young people

The Come Correct (or C-Card) scheme provides access to free condoms in a variety of locations (called Outlets) across London. Once registered you can collect condoms or get advice from any outlet displaying the Come Correct logo.

Support for victims of sexual assault

The Havens provide specialist centres across London for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted. For urgent advice and an initial assessment call 020 3299 6900.

Self-care and National Support Services

NATIONAL SUPPORT

• Call the free Smokefree National Helpline to speak to a trained, expert adviser on 0300 123 1044. All lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm*.
• Smokefree has lots of free support this includes a smartphone app, email programme or text messages that will keep you focused wherever you are.
• You can also speak to your doctor, pharmacy team or local Stop Smoking Service for expert advice on stop smoking medicines.

SELF CARE

• Download the NHS Smokefree app from itunes or google play
• Get further information from the National Health Service www.nhs.uk/quit
• Consider using e-cigarettes to stop smoking
• Millions have used Smokefree support to help them stop smoking. Choose from an app, email, SMS and face-to-face guidance. 

Emphasise that quitting will the best thing they will ever do and the NHS Smokefree service can provide the friendly and helpful support they need to quit for good

Illegal Tobacco

The availability of cheap, illegal tobacco can seriously undermine attempts to stop smoking. Did you know that you can report any sales of illegal tobacco in your community by contacting Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline anonymously on 0808 223 1133, or report it online at http://www.londontradingstandards.org.uk/report-consumer-crime/.  Click on our regional resources tab to see more information about how organisations in London are working together on the Stamp It Out campaign and how you can help.

Local Support Services

Breathe

Breathe is a stop smoking service which offers confidential advice to people who live, work and study in Camden. Breathe advisors know that different types of support work for different people. We can provide a range of tailored methods to help you quit. Breathe provides three tiers of service:

Tier 1: For smokers interested in stopping without ongoing personalised support from a specialist. Online/email advice.

Tier 2: A clinical service for smokers using behaviour change techniques and optimum medication. Includes a minimum of 2 in-person sessions and weekly contact from a trained stop smoking practitioner over 6 weeks, tailored to individual needs.

Tier 3: A clinical service for smokers who are highly dependent on nicotine and/or have complex needs - may have had multiple quit attempts.

Website: https://www.breathestopsmoking.org/

Telephone: Call 020 3633 2609

Click here to find the form to book a one-to-one session with one of our stop smoking advisors, contact us for more information or to leave us some feedback. We look forward to hearing from you!

Tier 2 Brief Support in GPs and Community Pharmacies

Residents can also access the Tier 2 Brief Support service through some General Practices (GPs) and Community Pharmacies. Lists for which GPs and Pharmacies offer the service can be found below:

List of GPs providing Tier 2 Brief Support

List of Community Pharmacies providing Tier 2 Brief Support

Self-care and National Support Services

Booking an appointment

For those wishing to find out whether they are eligible for a vaccination and how to book an appointment, go back to the Assist section and guide them through. 

Local information and support

Specific borough information for local vaccination and support services can be found below. 

Local Support Services

Covid-19 and Flu Vaccinations

Website: COVID-19 and flu vaccinations - Camden Council

Information on COVID-19 and flu vaccines, including eligibility, and information on how to get vaccinated in Camden.

 

Measles Vaccinations

Website: Measles vaccinations - Camden Council

Information on measles vaccines and how to book a vaccine for a child or adult.