Mental health support is just a phone call or text message away
For many people experiencing mental health challenges, reaching out for support can be the toughest obstacle to overcome. But whatever the challenge and whenever the time of day, there's always someone on the end of the phone in Northamptonshire who's ready to help.
The Mental Health Number is a free service that anyone in our county (aged 17 years and six months and above) can access 24/7 via phone, text message or online live chat. It was set up right at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and since then has taken hundreds of thousands of calls from people needing mental health support.
Based at a hub in Northampton, the service is staffed by professionals from NHFT and Mind who are trained to be responsive to a wide range of needs to offer the right help at the right time. This could be providing emotional support to someone experiencing anxiety or low mood, or sending urgent help for someone facing a mental health crisis.
For those considered most at risk, the team can alert Northamptonshire's Crisis Response Unit or Urgent Care and Assessment Team for a quick response, while others may be referred to Community Mental Health Teams, Talking Therapies, our county's Crisis Cafés or other support services available in the community. Where wider problems are at the root of their mental health concerns, people can be signposted to things like debt advice, housing support, social care or help with addiction.
Support for carers too
And the service isn't just for those who need mental health support themselves - carers who might need advice about looking after a loved one are also welcome to call, with call handlers ready to guide them towards services supporting carer wellbeing where needed. The team also regularly receive calls from other healthcare professionals, such as GPs wishing to refer their patients for mental health support and hundreds of callers connected with the service by NHS 111 each month.
Need mental health support? Call 0800 448 0828 or text 07480 635531
Christine Edwards, Service Manager for the Mental Health Number, said: "Whatever you're going through with your mental health, we're here to get you the help you need - any time of day or night and completely free of charge. We know that reaching out for support can sometimes feel like a big step to take, but please remember that you're never alone and we're always ready to take your call."
Meet the team: Mental Health Number colleagues on the rewards and challenges of their work
"A lot of people have never asked for help before, but if you can be kind and empathetic you've made their day better. After any interaction on the phone I always send a text message just to let the person know we're here and they can call us any time. If I was struggling, I know that reassurance would probably help me. Even though you're struggling, you're not alone. We are here and we do care."
Tiggi Neal, Mental Health Navigator
"If someone's ringing up in distress or in crisis, we can offer emotional support and then refer them to community services that can help or look at what support is available within NHFT. It can be challenging work at times but when we get positive feedback it shows how we can really make a difference. The fact that we are so accessible to people everywhere in the county is really important."
Lucy Goff, Clinical Lead
"We often speak to patients who are in real distress, but after we go through some interventions with them they become calmer and less agitated. To know that your involvement has made a positive impact like this is really rewarding. We also support carers because there's help available for them too. It means a lot to be able to let them know someone cares."
Ife Odeyemi-Cole, Mental Health Lead Professional
"Callers can range from somebody who's a bit lonely and just needs a bit of a chat and some emotional support right up to somebody experiencing a mental health crisis. When you have somebody call up feeling like they want to end their lives but you end the call and the outcome and their feelings are different, that makes you feel really good."
Amica Hawksworth-Jones, Support Worker
New mental health text service up for national award
Chat Mental Health, a text messaging service launched by the Mental Health Number and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, has been shortlisted for a prestigious national Health Service Journal Digital Award.
The new service went live in 2025 to improve access to crisis support for people in Northamptonshire who can't - or would prefer not to - talk on the phone. Like the Mental Health Number, it is staffed by qualified mental health practitioners and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring crisis support is more responsive, inclusive and accessible. The service is nominated in the 'Improving Mental Health through Digital' category of the HSJ Digital awards, with the winner to be announced in May 2026.