Knowing who and where to get help from regarding mental health can be confusing. This guide tries to set out just a few of the places and organisations that can help you in RBKC.

The 4minds Project has been set up to focus on delivering improved mental health care and treatment to people from the Black and Ethnic Minority Communities within RBKC. The work objectives for the team are:

• Tackling stigma and raising awareness of mental health
• Active participation and involvement of BME Communities in mental health policy and implementation
• Promoting joint working and education and training within the statutory services and community voluntary organisations

Worried about yourself or a family member or friend?

If you are unable to visit either of these Emergency Contacts and you think that either you or someone close to you may need urgent hospital admission

contact the Social Services EMERGENCY DUTY TEAM on 020 7373 2227

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s physical safety, you should always contact the police:

NORTH: 020 7221 1212

SOUTH: 020 7376 1212

The term mental illness covers a range of different problems from depression and anxiety to psychosis and personality disorders. At some point in our lives it is likely that we will all experience some form of mental distress, for example after some life changing event. The difference between these unpleasant but normal feelings and mental illness is often the intensity and duration of these feelings.

Approximately one in ten people will suffer from mental illness in any one year. This is a significant number of people, yet often we feel afraid and alone; afraid that no one will understand us, that what we are experiencing is unusual and out of the ordinary. We may even feel some embarrassment or shame.

There are many services in Kensington and Chelsea for anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else’s mental health. These include the statutory Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) which are responsible for the care and treatment of people with severe and enduring mental health problems who are living in the community.

You can also find more general information and advice at the following websites:

www.mentalhealth.org.uk www.sane.org.uk

www.mind.org.uk www.rethink.org

www.nhs.uk www.scmh.org.uk

www.turningpoint.org.uk www.cnwl.nhs.org.uk

Although Mental Health problems are common, so is recovery.