MAKE A REFERRAL
For GPs, social prescribers, and other professionals. We respond to all referrals within 72 hours.
WHO CAN REFER
Primary Care
- • GPs and practice nurses
- • Primary care mental health teams
- • Health visitors
Community
- • Social prescribers
- • Community health workers
- • Voluntary sector organisations
Clients can also self-refer — no professional referral is required.
REFERRAL CRITERIA
✓ SUITABLE FOR COUNSELLING
- • Adults 18+ living in Essex at time of referral
- • Must have suicidal thoughts or history of suicidal thoughts
- • Mild to moderate mental health difficulties (e.g. stress, confidence, day-to-day coping, bereavement)
- • Risk can be safely managed within a short-term placement
- • May have a diagnosis but willing to work on here-and-now issues
✗ NOT SUITABLE FOR
- • Under 18 or not living in Essex at time of referral
- • Active suicidality or unmanageable risk
- • Complex or historic trauma as primary need
- • Active alcohol/drug addiction
- • Ongoing court proceedings (criminal, family, or safeguarding)
- • Requires multi-agency intervention (MAPPA, MARAC, court-mandated)
- • Currently in inpatient or acute crisis care
- • Low mood & anxiety without suicidal thoughts — signpost to Mind/mainstream
Not sure if your client is suitable? Get in touch and we'll discuss. If we can't help, we'll always signpost to appropriate services including NHS Talking Therapies, Samaritans, or specialist trauma services.
HOW TO REFER
Complete the referral form
Use our online professional referral form or call 07308 069 609 (Mon-Fri, 11am-7pm) with your client's details and reason for referral.
Clinical Assessor reviews
Our Clinical Assessor reviews the referral and decides which service is most appropriate — counselling, coffee groups, or befriending calls.
We respond within 72 hours
We'll confirm receipt and let you know the outcome. Current waitlist is approximately 4 weeks. If we can't help, we'll signpost to appropriate services.
ALTERNATIVE SERVICES
If your client doesn't meet our criteria, these services may be able to help:
Crisis Support
- • EPUT Crisis Team
- • NHS 111 (option 2)
- • Samaritans: 116 123
- • Mid Essex Crisis Resolution
Longer-term Support
- • Mind Mid and North East Essex
- • Trust Links
- • NHS Talking Therapies
- • Mid Essex Social Prescribing
Specialist Support
- • Essex Sexual Abuse Support (trauma)
- • Carers First (unpaid carers)
- • Substance misuse services
Low Mood & Anxiety (no suicidal thoughts)
- • Mind mainstream support
- • NHS Talking Therapies
- • Frontline directory