The 0800 028 8000 number has been retired — anyone in mental health crisis in South West London should now call NHS 111 and select the mental health option, 24 hours a day
People experiencing a mental health crisis in South West London should now call NHS 111 rather than the dedicated crisis line previously operated by South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, following the full integration of the region’s 24-hour crisis service into the national NHS 111 mental health pathway.
The Trust’s 0800 028 8000 crisis line number has been permanently retired as of today. The change creates a single, nationally recognised route to urgent mental health support that operates around the clock and is accessible from any phone without charge.
What Has Changed and What Stays the Same
The change is primarily about the number people call — not about the quality, speed, or nature of the support they receive when they do.
What has changed:
- The 0800 028 8000 South West London crisis line number is no longer in service
- People in mental health crisis should now call 111 and select the mental health option
What has not changed:
- Mental health calls to NHS 111 continue to be answered by trained mental health professionals — not general call handlers
- Specialist local mental health teams remain available to respond
- The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Bank Holidays
- The service covers people of all ages, including children and young people
- The service is available to callers concerned about someone else — a friend, family member, or person they support — not only to those in crisis themselves
The practical implication is straightforward: anyone who previously saved or used the 0800 number should update their records and contacts to use 111 with the mental health option selected instead.
Why the Change Has Been Made
The integration of South West London’s crisis line into NHS 111 is part of a national NHS programme to standardise access to urgent mental health support across England.
The programme has two specific aims. The first is to give people in mental health crisis one clear, familiar number that is consistent regardless of where in England they are or which local trust covers their area. The 111 number is already widely known as the NHS’s non-emergency urgent care line, and extending it to cover mental health crisis support removes the need for people to know a separate local number — a barrier that research has shown can prevent people from seeking help when they most need it.
The second aim is to establish parity between mental and physical healthcare in terms of access. For physical health emergencies, 999 and 111 are universally understood routes to urgent care. Mental health crisis has historically lacked an equivalent single national pathway with the same level of public recognition. The NHS 111 mental health option is designed to fill this gap progressively as it is embedded across all NHS trust areas.
NHS 111 for mental health first became available in South West London in 2023, meaning the service has been operating alongside the 0800 crisis line for several years and is already established as a route into crisis care for many patients, carers, and partner organisations in the area. The retirement of the 0800 number completes the transition from a parallel two-route system to a single integrated pathway.
Who the Service Is For
The NHS 111 mental health pathway in South West London is available to:
- Adults experiencing any form of mental health crisis, including acute anxiety, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, severe depression, or any other situation where urgent mental health support is needed
- Children and young people in mental health crisis
- Family members, friends, carers, or anyone concerned about someone else’s mental health
- Healthcare professionals and partner organisations seeking urgent mental health advice or support for a patient or client
There is no requirement to be registered with a GP in South West London or to have had previous contact with mental health services. Anyone calling from a South West London number — or calling about someone in the area — will be connected to local specialist teams.
Children and Young People: Additional Contact Route
While NHS 111 covers children and young people as well as adults, a separate crisis line for children and adolescents remains available through the South London Partnership CAMHS Crisis Line.
CAMHS Crisis Line: 020 3228 5980
Hours: 9:00am to 11:00pm, every day of the year
Outside these hours — between 11:00pm and 9:00am — families and young people in crisis should call 111 with the mental health option.
Parents, carers, and professionals concerned about a child or young person’s mental health can use either route depending on the time of day and the urgency of the situation.
How to Get Help Right Now
The change means the following routes apply from today for urgent mental health support in South West London:
For all mental health crises, all ages, 24 hours a day:
Call 111 and select the mental health option when prompted
For children and young people, 9am to 11pm daily:
Call 020 3228 5980 (South London Partnership CAMHS Crisis Line)
For life-threatening emergencies:
Call 999 or attend the nearest emergency department
For non-urgent mental health support:
- Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24 hours, for emotional distress)
- Crisis text line: Text SHOUT to 85258
- GP surgery: For referral to community mental health services during routine hours
The Broader South West London Mental Health Context
The transition to NHS 111 takes place alongside other significant developments in mental health provision across South West London.
As reported earlier this month, South West London’s health system is receiving £1.9 million in dedicated investment for Mental Health Emergency Departments at St George’s Hospital, Croydon University Hospital, and Kingston Hospital — specialist facilities designed to provide a calmer, more therapeutic environment for people in mental health crisis who attend emergency departments.
Together, these developments reflect a broader shift in how South West London’s NHS system is approaching mental health crisis care — moving toward earlier, more accessible intervention that reduces pressure on emergency departments while ensuring people in crisis reach specialist mental health professionals as quickly as possible.
Vanessa Ford, Chief Executive of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, said that when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, getting help should be simple, and that integrating the crisis line with NHS 111 gives people across South West London one clear, familiar number to call at any time of day or night. She urged anyone in crisis, or anyone concerned about a friend, family member, or loved one, to reach out and seek help without hesitation.
