We all get stressed from time to time but talking about it can really make a difference.
This Mental Health Awareness Week (14 – 20 May) we are focusing on how NHS talking therapies services in North West London help people who may be feeling stressed or generally low.
Talking to a therapist or undergoing self-help courses can help people learn new ways to help themselves feel more able to cope with their problems.
A recent user of talking therapies support said:
“I was really struggling and never thought I needed intervention, support or treatment. But after a suggestion from my GP to try talking therapies, I decided I had nothing to lose.
“Since undergoing therapy my life has completely changed. My experiences with my difficulties have shifted my perspective and I do not find my situation unbearable anymore.
“With the help of my therapist, I have managed to set realistic goals, and keep to them, despite setbacks.”
Talking therapies services are easy to access through self-referral or GP referral and they are available across all North West London boroughs. To find out more, contact the relevant service for your borough:
| Borough | Contact number |
| Brent | 020 8206 3924 |
| Harrow | 020 8515 5015 |
| Hillingdon | 01895 206 800 |
| Hounslow | 0300 123 0739 |
| Ealing | 020 3313 5660 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 0300 123 1156 |
| Westminster | 030 3333 0000 |
| Kensington and Chelsea, Queens Park and Paddington | 020 3317 4200 |
People registered with a GP in either Harrow or Brent can also use Health Help Now, a free digital patient app to monitor how they are feeling. The mood tool feature asks basic questions about your mood and how you feel and will signpost you to relevant services based on your responses. The app can be downloaded here: App Store or Google Play.
To date, almost 6,000 people in Brent have used talking therapies to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.
