Mental Health
One in four adults may experience mental health problems at some time in their lives.
Stress and worry can affect each of us in different ways, affecting how we feel, how we think and behave.
Often mental health issues may affect your physical health with symptoms such as exhaustion, loss of or increased appetite, headaches, lack of motivation, crying, sleeplessness, and oversleeping.
If you feel like you may have depression or some of the symptoms, try taking this confidential NHS Choices test to learn more.
If you have any concerns about your mental well-being,initially the best place to start is to speak to your GP about your concerns. Your GP will discuss a number of options for you to consider which may include self-referral for support and advice to organisations in the voluntary sector or referral to mental health services provided in the Bexley area.
Watch a short video about one person's first hand experiences of depression and how she managed to get help
Where to get help
Your GP may speak to you about the services provided at Mind in Bexley. Mind in Bexley works for a better quality of life for people in the London Borough of Bexley who are experiencing mental distress. Mind is a national charity. It works in partnership to provide services that enable those with mental health issues and their carers to tackle these challenges with optimism and to work towards a valued lifestyle for those with mental health difficulties.
Mind provides a wide range of services including:
- advocacy
- befriending information and training
- psychological support services
- employment advice and support to remain in work following a period of sickness
- welfare rights
- debt advice and counselling.
Their Employment, Holistic and Debt workers can also meet with employers to discuss additional support people in work may need. They have also set up a borough wide network of contacts for additional specialist support for people to ensure that people are directed to the most appropriate service.
Mind's services are available six days a week (Monday – Saturday), providing professional, practical and confidential support, face to face, over the phone and on-line to all mental health service users and anyone connected with them.
Contact Mind
Milton House, 240A Broadway (through archway next to Bridal shop on the right)
Bexleyheath,Kent, DA6 8AS
Email: info@mindinbexley.org.uk
Tel: 0208 303 5816
More specialised support
If your General Practitioner feels you need more specialist assistance and support then you may be referred to services provided by NHS Trusts. Two large NHS Trusts provide secondary mental health services to people in Bexley.
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Oxleas Foundation Trust provides mental health and learning disability services to people living in Bexley. These services are provided in a variety of settings including Acute inpatient care which is provided at the Woodlands unit based at Queen Marys Hospital. Longer term support and care is provided within the Community Mental Health recovery Service.
These services include:
- assessments and brief treatment service based at the Erith centre at Park Crescent Erith
- community mental health follow ups
- out patient follow up provided in the out patient clinics.
Oxleas also provide a service to adults over 65 including people with dementia and children and adolescents within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. (CAMHS)
Contact Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Pinewood House
Pinewood Place
Dartford
Kent DA2 7WG
Free phone PALS: 0800 917 7159
Main Tel: 01322 625700
For more information about the wide range of services offered by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, view the website via the right hand link.
South London and Maudsley NHS Trust
South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) provides specialist services to people living in Bexley which cannot be provided by Oxleas. These services include:
- eating disorder services
- support around substance misuse
- neuropsychiatry and memory services
- couple and sexual problems
- child and adolescent mental health services.
In order to access these service you must initially consult with your General Practitioner who will discuss the appropriateness of referral to these services.
Contact South London and Maudsley NHS Trust
Maudsley Hospital
Denmark Hill
London SE5 8AZ
Patient Advocacy and Liaison Service 24hr Freephone: 0800 7312864
Main Tel:0203 228 6000
Email: PALS@slam.nhs.uk
For more information about the services offered by South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, view its website via the right hand link.
Voluntary Organisations
There are a number of voluntary organisations in Bexley who help people with mental health problems. Some of the key groups we work with are:
Rethink works to support the carers of those with mental health difficulties;
Together is a national charity working alongside people with mental health issues to offer housing support;
First Step Trust offer real workplace training and qualifications.
