Reaching high for the best for your child

Christmas Support Contacts

Tuesday, 19 December 2023

Christmas can be a challenging time for some of us and we do not want anyone to feel alone or unable to access support. Here are a few services who can be contacted to support a wide range of issues and are just at the end of a phone or weblink. Please use them if you feel worried or overwhelmed or just need someone to lend an ear. 

To support mental health: 

  • Dial NHS 111 and select option 2 for the mental health crisis team. You will be connected to a contact centre where trained staff will provide appropriate support and advice 24 hours a day.  You can call their Single Point of Access (SPA) freephone number: 0800 6444 101 which is open 24/7. SPA also offers live webchat. Please visit the following website for more information: www.hpft.nhs.uk/get-help/  

  • Shout: a free 24/7 text service, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Text “SHOUT” to 85258. - Sane: out of hours helpline. Please call 0300 304 7000 from 4.30pm - 10.30pm every day. 

  • -Sandbox Homepage (mindler.co.uk)  a fantastic website aimed at children and young people aged 10-25 years old who are struggling with their mental health 

  • https://www.withyouth.org/how-we-help/lumi-nova/ another fantastic and engaging website aimed at children and young people aged 7-12 years old who are struggling with their mental health 

  • Crisis Support | Hertfordshire Mind Network (hertsmindnetwork.org) They offer emotional support, advice and information if you are feeling distressed and are in crisis. 

Their Nightlight Crisis Helpline team is there for you from 7pm to 1am, every day of the year. Their Nightlight Crisis Cafes at Watford and Stevenage are open from 7pm to 1am every evening, seven days a week, 365 days a year. 

Additional contacts 

  • Samaritans: whatever you’re going through, you can call Samaritans any time (24/7), from any phone for free. Call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (response time: 24 hours).  

  • For anyone suffering from domestic abuse, contact Sada 01438 242666  SADA@stevenage.gov.uk  

  • Food shed  01438 361616   

  • For anyone suffering from substance misuse, contact Hidden harm  0800 6523169 email herts@cgl.org.uk