Mental Health Support for Adults in Croydon (One Croydon) training session, 24/09/25

Mental Health Support for Adults in Croydon (One Croydon Training) - September 2025 Meeting Notes
A special thank you to all who provided service updates—your contributions are essential in strengthening our collective knowledge of Adult Mental Health support in Croydon. The session's success is only possible by your continued support. Below is the recording from this session and a summary of service updates.
Recording of the Mental Health Support for Adults in Croydon: https://youtu.be/aHbq4UWW2J8
 
Guest Speakers
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM)
Patricia Phillip, Clinical Service Lead patricia.phillip@slam.nhs.uk
Lucy Hamer, Patient and Public Involvement Lead lucy.hamer@slam.nhs.uk
 
  • SLaM Mental Health Crisis Helpline: Distressed or in Crisis? If you need urgent help please call free 0800 731 2864 (Option 1) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For emotional support and advice for those affected by urgent mental health issues, at any time of the day or night. Helpline is open to everyone: both children and adults of all ages, and to people who haven’t previously accessed mental health services.
  • Getting Help in a Crisis - Croydon leaflet with information for anyone in Croydon who needs urgent mental health support. * If a person is at immediate risk of harm, call 999.
  • NHS 111 Mental Health Help: Call 111 (Option 2) for First Response Service (24-hour, 7 days a week service for people in a mental health crisis) for anyone, of any age who is registered with a GP in South West London. Specially trained mental health staff will discuss with you your mental health care needs – instead of you having to go to an accident and emergency department at your hospital. Any local resident can call us. You do not have to be a patient. If a person is at immediate risk of harm, call 999.
  • Advice on mental health, medication and help with accessing information and services:  W: www.slam.nhs.uk
Easy read and large print leaflets
Brief crisis leaflet
Translated leaflets: Crisis brief Albanian (PDF) - Crisis brief Arabic (PDF)  - Crisis brief Farsi (PDF) 
Crisis brief French (PDF)  -  Crisis brief Polish (PDF)  -  Crisis brief Portugese (PDF)  -  Crisis brief Somali (PDF) 
Crisis brief Spanish (PDF) -  Crisis brief Tamil (PDF)  -  Crisis brief Turkish (PDF)
  • SUN Project: A service run by the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, offering therapeutic groups for people with, or without a diagnosis of personality disorder. Offering three groups a week aimed at helping people to cope with distressing thoughts and feelings in a safe way. Coming to a Sun group can help you get the right support when you need it and can help prevent the need for psychiatric hospital admission. SUN is self-referral. Please contact us either by phone, or email to request a referral form E: personalitydisorderteamgeneral@slam.nhs.uk | T: 020 3228 8541
Tom Goddard, Director of Services, MIND in Croydon
Presentation: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/20250924-mindincroydon
Mind in Croydon: Working with people with mental health problems and their families to promote good mental health to empower people to lead a full life, as part of their local community; through Social Networking Support, Counselling, Independent Mental Health & Community Advocacy, Mental Health Carers’ Support, Employment Support and Welfare Benefits services. W: www.mindincroydon.org.uk | T: 020 8688 1210 All Mind services can be accessed  at https://www.mindincroydon.org.uk/how-we-can-help/
 
  • Active Minds: To refer someone to the Active Minds groups please fill out the referral form found at: https://www.mindincroydon.org.uk/how-we-can-help/connecting-with-people/active-minds/
  • The Recovery Space: Out of hours, expert 1-1 support for people in crisis for urgent help and support they need outside the A&E. W: www.mindincroydon.org.uk/how-we-can-help/support/recovery-space
  • Mental Health Personal Independence Co-ordinators: Providing (in partnership with BME Forum) community support to people with ongoing mental health issues
  • Mindmatch: Personalised 1-1 direct support with care plans, taking medication, and engaging with specific activities within an identified mental health personal care plan.
  • Mind in Croydon Hub at Fairfield: offers support to people to understand and manage their mental and physical health issues. It is also a safe place for those who are lonely and isolated to meet and socialise with others and a place to receive practical help and advice such as: Form Filling; Benefit Issues; Managing Bills and Debt. E: Hub@mindincroydon.org.uk
  • Therapeutic Counselling Service: Aims to promote good mental health by providing a high quality professional service giving you the opportunity to explore issues past and present that are having an effect on your life. One-to-one, Anger Group, Anxiety Group.W: www.mindincroydon.org.uk/how-we-can-help/counselling
  • Mental Health Directory: W: www.directory.mindincroydon.org.uk/
  • Croydon health and Wellbeing Space Wellbeing In partnership with the NHS, Croydon BME Forum and Mind in Croydon, we’re to provide mental health support to the Croydon community, in-person and online. We aim to provide better access to Community and Clinical Support within Croydon and are designed for people who have not previously engaged with support, including BME communities and for people who would fall through the gaps of traditional mental health support. 
MIND Central West London, Suicide Bereavement Support: For those affected by suicide (family or friends) Free counselling and Peer Support Groups for those who live in South West London For a referral contact: Caroline Luisis, Suicide Bereavement Liaison, South West London cluisis@bwwmind.org.uk
Croydon Health & Wellbeing Space - Flyer: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/croydon-health-wellbeing-spa
Space for people to receive Advice, Guidance, and Signposting alongside Clinical Support from our Clinical Psychology team under one roof. Drop in Times: Monday – Saturday 10 am – 1pm.  T: 02031549539 Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm |   W: www.croydonhws.co.uk
 
Service updates from Mental Health Support Groups in Croydon
 
Manju Shahul-Hameed, Clinical Director MS Foundations for Mental Health
Presentation: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/20250924-msfoundations-present
Flyer October Events: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/20250924-msfoundations-flyer1
MSH Foundation for Mental Health: Transforming mental health stigma Supporting mental health wellbeing - Celebrating and promoting positive aging Improving community well-being among people residing permanently or temporarily in London Borough of Croydon and surrounding areas. Regular activities include:
  • Dementia Café 1: Clocktower Café, CR9 1ET Every 3rd Mon of the month from 13.30 -15.30
  • Dementia Café 2: – Croydon University Hospital, St Barnabas Worship Centre.  Every last Mon of each month from 13.30 - 15.30
  • Dementia Café 3: Coulsdon Methodist Church, Every 1st Tues each month from 13.30 - 15.30
  • Coffee with a Counsellor: West Croydon Methodist Church CR0 2RF. Every 2nd Wed each month from 10:00 -12:00
 
Kelvin O’Mard, Business Operations Manager, Croydon BME Forum
Presentation: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/20250924-bmeforumcroydon-prese
  • Croydon BME Forum: Croydon BME Forum runs several projects around the borough of Croydon providing support and advice around well-being, mental health, cancer, and other long-term conditions, particularly to members of the ethnic minority communities. W: www.cbmeforum.org | T: 020 8684 3719
  • Croydon BME Forum Wellness Centre: Free support to prevent the onset of mental health problems and alleviate issues such as stress, anxiety, isolation and low mood. We offer support to adults with mild, severe and enduring long-term conditions. W: www.cbmeforum.org/the-wellness-centre
Helen Harris, Purley Baptist Church, Renew23 Café
Renew 23 Wellbeing Café is a place where 'its ok not to be ok'!
We offer - Refreshments - Time to chat, or just sit - Hobbies & Crafts - Lunch - Meet people or be on your own - Quiet reflective space to be still, or pray on Thursdays from 10 am -2 pm at the Foyer Café, Purley Baptist Church, Banstead Road, Purley CR8 3EA. E: office@purleybaptist.org | T: 0208 668 0422. 
W: http://www.purleybaptist.org/Articles/592976/Renew_23_Cafe.aspx
Nayim Chowdhury, Asian Resource Centre Croydon, Unfolding Layers Project
Unfolding Layers Project: Mainstream mental health services often do not fully address the specific challenges faced by South Asians, including cultural stigma, language barriers and a lack of culturally sensitive care. These factors can prevent individuals from seeking the support they need. ARCC’s ‘Unfolding Layers’ project provides FREE mental health support through individual counselling and group therapy sessions. Eligibility Criteria: Aged 18+, must live or work in the London Borough of Croydon and be of South Asian background or cultural affiliation. Referral Process: Clients can self-refer or be referred by a professional using this link: https://www.arccltd.com/projects/unfolding-layers
 
Dr Bala Parvatham, Change Grow Live, Project Team Lead, SmokeFree Croydon
Amanda McGrath, Good Food matters, Men Shed Project
Presentation: Here  | Flyer: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/20250924menshedproject
  • The MENSHED Project offers a space for men age 18+ to come together in shared enjoyment with practical, hands-on gardening with all the health and wellbeing benefits of being outdoors, being physically active, having fun and sharing skills and enjoying home-grown vegetable and fruit produce. Every Friday from 11:00 – 15:00.  W: www.goodfoodmatters.org.uk  | E: amanda@goodfoodmatters.org.uk
David Ashton, Welfare Rights Advice Project Manager, Hear Us
Hear us: Hear Us supports adults with mental ill health to access financial, health and social inclusion support in Croydon. We challenge restrictive and coercive healthcare practices, and negative perceptions associated with mental illness, helping to reduce stigma and discrimination.
  • Hear Us Welfare Rights Advice Project: Helping vulnerable people make and maintain benefit claims, challenge decisions and navigate a complex social security system. We address immediate financial poverty through access to food banks and discretionary payments, help to improve financial security and support increased social inclusion by assisting to apply to Motability/travel schemes, and other opportunities.
Sally Davies, Studio Upstairs:
Presentation: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/20250924-studioupstairs-presen
Studio Upstairs provides art education, therapeutic and social support through weekly groups running 10am - 5pm for people 18+.  The group members organise exhibitions and group outings.  Also providing workshops and online groups (2 hours) at different times. There is a charge, but there are some subsidised or free places dependent on project funding.  E: southlondon@studioupstairs.org.uk  | W: www.studioupstairs.org.uk
Marcella Meloni, Managing Director, Avanti Mental Well-Being
Hear Us Welfare Rights Advice Project: Helping vulnerable people make and maintain benefit claims, challenge decisions and navigate a complex social security system. We address immediate financial poverty through access to food banks and discretionary payments, help to improve financial security and support increased social inclusion by assisting to apply to Motability/travel schemes, and other opportunities.
Presentation: Click here
  • Training and support for voluntary and statutory organisations and projects working with this client group.
 
Brenda, Rethink Croydon
Leaflet: https://cvalive.org.uk/assets/documents/20250924-rethinkcroydoncarersg
  • Croydon Rethink Carers Support Group meetings are free, informal and everyone is welcome. All members are themselves carers, and can therefore offer empathy & help to those in a similar position. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month between 7pm – 9pm at Primary Room United Reform Church, Addiscombe Grove (near East Croydon Station), East Croydon CR0 5LP. Join us for an opportunity to talk with other carers about their experiences in caring for, and supporting someone affected by mental illness. You can just turn up, but we suggest that before coming to the group, you phone or email just to introduce yourself and confirm the venues’ location. Contact T: 020 8660 3746 | E: ireneoliver77@aol.com
Lucas Gayle, Care to Listen
Care to Listen: A low-cost BACP Accredited counselling service in Croydon (also serving local areas such
as Sutton and Purley). We pride ourselves on delivering a quality service, that is accessible and affordable to all and aim not to have a waiting list. We specialise in integrative counselling which includes cognitive behavioural therapy and psychodynamic and person-centred counselling. 
T: 020 8616 2160 |  E admin58@caretolisten.co.uk | W: www.caretolisten.co.uk | https://www.caretolisten.co.uk/how-we-can-help/
Service Updates for groups unable to attend on the day
  • Devine Recovery: working with adults aged 18-65 with complex needs. Our goal is to help client's stay active and involved while supporting independence for as long as possible. We offer a wide range of facilities and services to support the client group we work with, whilst working at the pace of the individual and the NHS care plan. W: https://divinerecovery.co.uk/ | T: 07931117539 | E: info@divinerecovery.co.uk
Mental Health Resources 
Mental Health & Wellbeing Support in Croydon booklet: Take a look and print out this useful 'Mental Health & Wellbeing support in Croydon' booklet here
 
  • Online Mental Health & Well Being support in Croydon booklet can be found on CVA website home page www.cvalive.org.uk → Directories Button → Croydon Mental Health Groups
  • Other useful directories can be found on the home page of the Croydon Voluntary Action website, www.cvalive.org.uk (Homeless Support, Foodbanks, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Autism, Debt Advice Services, Find Activities, Find Organisations)
Croydon Simply Connect Directory 
You can find out more about local services on Simply Connect Croydon. This online directory lists numerous specialist support services, such as mental health, bereavement services and much more. Find a service