People in south-west London who need urgent mental-health support are now being directed to call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option, after South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust retired its separate 24-hour crisis line number. The former number, 0800 028 8000, was withdrawn from use on 1 October 2026 as part of a full integration of the local Mental Health Crisis Line into NHS 111.
The change applies to anyone of any age experiencing a mental-health crisis, as well as relatives, friends, carers or others who are worried about someone else. The trust says mental-health calls through NHS 111 continue to be answered by mental-health professionals and remain connected to local specialist teams.
One number for urgent mental-health support
The practical instruction for residents is now to call 111 and choose the mental-health option. The service is described as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including for children and young people.
The former 0800 028 8000 line had operated as the trust’s dedicated 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line. Its retirement means people should no longer rely on that separate number for access to urgent crisis support in the trust’s area. The change does not mean mental-health crisis help through 111 is new to south-west London: that route first became available locally in 2023. The latest step is the removal of the parallel 0800 line and the move to a single route through the nationally recognised NHS 111 number.
The trust says the purpose of the change is to make access clearer when people are in crisis, while maintaining local mental-health support behind the call-handling route. That distinction is important for callers who may be concerned that a national number means losing a local response. The trust’s position is that callers selecting the mental-health option will still be linked with local specialist mental-health services.
Support for children and young people
Children and young people, their families and carers can still use the South London Partnership CAMHS Crisis Line on 020 3228 5980. That line remains open every day from 9am to 11pm.
Outside those hours, or where a caller chooses the main urgent route, NHS 111 is available around the clock through the mental-health option. The all-age nature of the 111 service means it can be used by adults seeking help for themselves, by children and young people, and by parents, carers or professionals concerned about someone else.
The change is particularly relevant in boroughs such as Kingston and across the wider south-west London area served by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. Local public-service information for Kingston has also moved residents away from the retired 0800 number and towards 111 for urgent mental-health help.
When to call 999 or go to A&E
NHS 111 should not be treated as a replacement for emergency services where there is an immediate risk to life. If someone’s life is at immediate risk during a mental-health crisis, including where there is a medical emergency, serious injury, overdose, or urgent physical-health concern, the direction remains to call 999 or attend A&E.
People attending A&E with a mental-health emergency may be referred for liaison psychiatry input if further specialist mental-health support is needed. Local A&E departments listed for liaison psychiatry include St George’s Hospital, St Helier Hospital and Kingston Hospital.
For people who are already receiving care from the trust, the guidance during weekday office hours remains to contact the team providing their care using the details already given to them and to follow any agreed crisis arrangements. For urgent mental-health support at any time, the public route is now NHS 111 with the mental-health option.
Other crisis and wellbeing routes remain available
The South London Crisis Text Service is also described as available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for people of all ages. It can be used by someone seeking help for themselves or by a person concerned about someone else.
Recovery cafés, also known as crisis cafés, continue to be described as free walk-in out-of-hours services for people struggling with how they feel or worried they may be moving towards crisis. They do not require a referral or appointment.
The central change, however, is simple: for urgent mental-health support in south-west London, the old 0800 028 8000 crisis line has been retired. People should now call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option, while using 999 or A&E where there is immediate danger to life.
