Below is our most up to date list of mental health support services in Lewisham. All of these are free unless stated otherwise.
Download the information below here: Mental Health Support – Factsheet
Lewisham-based and online
- Adult Learning Lewisham – Mindlift courses for people living with mental health problems. In-person classes in: art; cookery; computing; drumming circles; English; English for speakers of other languages (ESOL); horticulture; maths; music – acoustic and digital; yoga and more
- Lewisham Community Wellbeing – phone or zoom once or twice a week for six months. Goal-orientated support on issues such as anxiety, depression, finances
- Sydenham Gardens – wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people in their recovery from mental and physical ill-health- gardening; arts and crafts; African Caribbean group; Young People’s group
- METRO Charity– mental health drop-ins, peer support, counselling and wellbeing activities for people from LGBTQIA+ communities
- Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network – Mental wellbeing service for people from BAME backgrounds – 1:1 support, Women’s project, Tamil speaking support group;
- MIND peer-led online groups by referral only. Women’s chat; arts and crafts; mindfulness; stress management; hearing voices; word craft
- Third Thursday Time – Activities for mental wellbeing; Tai Chi or Yoga, Massage, Arts and Crafts, games. A Christian element.
- Slam Recovery College – mindfulness, living with lockdown, communication and listening skills, specific seminars on conditions (ie Living with anxiety/depression). Open to all. Zoom without video or audio – interaction is by typing questions and answers
- Front Room Club in Downham (meeting in-person)
Counselling / therapy
- IAPT – free, self-referral or via GP
- Referral form or call 0203 228 1350
- Many groups, community based, BAME inclusive
- Employment advisors that work alongside
- All groups through zoom atm, triage done over phone
- Intended as intervention, not long term
- Lewisham Counselling and Counsellor Training Associates-Counselling from £5 for people who are unemployed. renaissancehorizons@outlook.com / 0208 320 2422
- Cassel Centre counselling – low cost counselling, also in other languages min £15, standard from £25 a session.
- You can also check:
- The Free Psychotherapy Network: https://freepsychotherapynetwork.com/organisations-offering-low-cost-psychotherapy/
- Qwell – Free online counselling platform, confidential chat-based, forums, self help resources: https://www.qwell.io/
- Hub of Hope – database of mental health support for a range of concerns: https://hubofhope.co.uk/
Crisis Lines
- Mindline – 02088531735, who can offer telephone counselling to people in need
- SLaM – free 24h MH support line on 0800 731 2864
- Solidarity in a Crisis London run an out of hours peer emotional support line on 0300 123 1922
- Samaritans (available on 116 123) can provide ongoing support past a single phone call, and all of these can also signpost you to other ongoing services in the borough
Please note that our team update these factsheets on a quarterly basis. If you would like to suggest any updates, corrections or comments then please contact our Community Development Worker at michael.stuart@ageuklands.org.uk
Date of last update: 16th January 2023