Mental Health in Waltham Forest

Here are some sources of support and some useful ways for LGBTQ+ Londoners to get support for mental health and wellbeing. 

Local LGBT mental health and wellbeing charity ELOP offer a range of LGBT+ specialist mental health support, advice, information, counselling, and well being support with a wide range of community connection services for LGBT+ people including events, activities and social support groups. 

Both the LGBT Foundation and Switchboard's helplines are open for those who are feeling alone, isolated or concerned. Both helplines have trained volunteers who will listen and try and understand the multitude of feelings and concerns that may be going on for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community: 

• Call LGBT Foundation’s helpline on 0345 330 3030 (9am until 9pm weekdays, 10am until 6pm weekends) or email helpline@lgbt.foundation. 
• Call Switchboard’s helpline on 0300 330 0630 (10am to 10pm daily) or email chris@switchboard.lgbt

Stonewall has an information service for help and advice for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community: 

• Call for free on 0800 0502020 (9.30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday) or email info@stonewall.org.uk 

There is a range of information about mental health support for people who are LGBTIQ+ on the Mind website. 

LGBTQ+ support groups and networks 

London Friend’s social and support groups provide a safe space away from the scene for LGBT people to come together to discuss a range of issues affecting them, including coming out and questions about sexuality. 

London LGBTQ+ Community Centre is a community centre and cafe in Blackfriars, working with LGBTQ+ service providers, and offering a holistic programme of services, events, talks, workshops, combined with a cafe space that invites visitors to simply just be. 

• 60 to 62 Hopton Street (SE1 9JH) open Wednesday to Sunday between 11am to 8pm.

Sudden bereavement and suicide bereavement support 

Sometimes, bereavement support services developed and delivered specifically for LGBTQI+ people are better positioned to understand what individuals are going through and to offer the right help. 

When faced with the loss of a loved one, many LGBTQIA+ people may face additional challenges such as familial estrangement or a lack of acknowledgement of their relationships, alongside the universal experiences of sadness and distress. 

• London Friend offer six, free one-to-one counselling sessions to LGBTQAI+ people, to help cope with a difficult bereavement. 
• Thrive LDN has a sudden bereavement resource for anyone grieving the sudden death of someone close to them, or for those supporting someone going through sudden bereavement. This includes information on bereavement by suicide.